A NEW teacher is embarking on her dream career at the primary school she left as a pupil 12 years ago.

Lucy Deakin attended Rudheath Primary School from 2005 to 2011 and has returned to the now Rudheath Primary Academy as a Key Stage 1 teacher.

Working with early years and reception children, Lucy hopes to have positive and inspiring impact on their lives after a previous teacher made her look forward to going to school each day.

She said: "Even from being little, my favourite game was to play teachers.

"It feels a bit surreal to have actually achieved that and now have my own class to teach.

"I have so many amazing memories of my time here at Rudheath, so it feels really nostalgic to be back.

"I’m grateful for the full support from all members of staff from my very first day here, I really feel like part of the team, and I can’t wait to progress in my teaching career here at Rudheath."

Remembering the warm and positive ethos promoted at the school led Lucy to choosing Rudheath as the perfect platform from which to launch her teaching career.

Having attended the school and lived in the local area, this experience has allowed her to fit in with the community and relate to the pupils and reach out to them.

Andrew Ross, principal at Rudheath Primary Academy, said: "We are all incredibly proud of Lucy.

"It is inspiring and encouraging to see a former pupil from Rudheath return and be such an asset to the team.

"We know Lucy’s experience learning and living within the community of Rudheath will be an incredible way to connect with the pupils here and we can’t wait to see her flourish."

Rudheath Primary Academy is part of Focus-Trust, a charitable primary school trust based in the North West of England and West Yorkshire that aims to provide great schools at the heart of communities where children thrive, achieve, and succeed.