FRIDAY was a bittersweet day for teachers at the John of Gaunt School, Trowbridge.

The school said goodbye to four members of staff, including headteacher Stephen Gee and deputy head Peter Sanderson. Mr Gee, 52, has been at the school for the past 18 years, 10 as head.

He said: "The majority of my time as a teacher has been spent here and I will find it a wrench to leave.

"Thanks to the efforts of staff and pupils, the school is stable and doing very well. I would like to thank them and the parents and governors for all their support."

Mr Gee, who trained as a drama teacher, has seen many changes, including the introduction of the national curriculum.

Both his children attended the school, one going on to study at Imperial College, London, the other at Cambridge University.

Now their children have grown up, Mr Gee and his wife, Christine, 50, have decided to build a new life for themselves in France.

They have been renovating a house there for the past 11 years and Mr Gee said his first priority will be getting that work finished.

Peter Sanderson, 43, is leaving the school after four years, but will be remaining in education.

He will take up a post as an education adviser with Bath and North East Somerset Council next year.

He said: "I have had four very happy years at John of Gaunt and I have been proud to be here for that time."

He said that teaching his last lesson on Friday was a very strange feeling.

"I will miss teaching and having daily contact with pupils. I will even miss the marking and lesson planning.

"I have been teaching for just over 20 years and I have really enjoyed those 20 years."

The school is also losing science teacher, Dr Alison Fewell, who will be taking up a post in Bath after three years at John of Gaunt.

Maths teacher, John Cormack, will be returning to his homeland of New Zealand after spending a term at the school as part of an exchange programme.

Taking up new posts at the school next term will be Roger Gilbert, Colin Pascoe and Sally van Praag.

Until a new head is appointed, deputy Lyn Sharpe will be holding the reins.