Life and Times: Margaret retires after 38 years of top-class teaching

The headteacher of St Francis RC Primary in Craigmillar is set to retire this summer after 18 years at the helm of the school and 38 years in the teaching profession.

Margaret Duff qualified from Craiglockhart College of Education in 1971.

She took up her first post at the prestigious Loretto School in Musselburgh the same year, later becoming support for learning teacher for pupils there and at Musselburgh's Burgh Primary.

She left East Lothian in 1980 to take up a post at St John's Primary in Portobello, before moving to St Francis school as principal teacher.

She quickly rose up the ranks before being promoted to headteacher 12 years ago.

Mrs Duff was brought up in Brechin, attending both the local primary and secondary school before moving to Edinburgh when she was 14, attending the former Holy Cross Academy.

Mrs Duff said she was excited about her retirement, but would miss the children.

While the youngsters "haven't changed" over the years, Mrs Duff said there had been a number of changes since she started teaching. She said: "It was much, much easier to get a job then. In those days we had a two-year probationary period instead of just one so we had the luxury of being able to make mistakes and learn from them.

"The new Curriculum for Excellence is injecting an element of fun into education.

"Children learn more when they are having fun and enjoying themselves."

Within her own school, Mrs Duff has also seen a dramatic change in recent years. The whole school was moved from its old building to a brand new purpose-built joint campus with Niddrie Mill Primary back in 2008.

She said: "We were fortunate to have a teacher from St Francis who also worked between Niddrie Mill so we were able to do a lot of learning and sharing prior to the move.

"We were gifted with a fantastic building and within a very short time it became home."

Mrs Duff is going to spend her retirement "having fun" and spending time with her husband Matthew, son Tony, 31, and four-year-old grandson Callum.

But she added she will miss working at St Francis.

She said: "I'm going to miss the children most, we have the most wonderful children here. I have been here such a long time so it's a big part of my life.

"I'm also fortunate enough to be in good health and I'm going to have fun. My life has been ruled by the clock so I'm looking forward to not being restricted."

The school will mark Mrs Duff's retirement with a special Mass.