Staff and pupils at Spring Meadow Infant and Nursery School in Ely said farewell to head teacher Shiela Sands.

Mrs Sands retired last Friday after 20 years at the helm of Spring Meadow, in High Barns.

To mark the occasion, pupils and staff set Mrs Sands off on her final mission at the school: She was tasked with finding 17 special documents hidden around the building and had to collect them in a special briefcase.

Each class helped Mrs Sands solve clues as to the whereabouts of the special documents – which were gifts made by each class- and then asked her questions about what she was planning to do in her retirement.

The children also gave their own suggestions as to what they thought she should do in her retirement, with ideas ranging from getting up late and eating chocolate ice-cream, to coming back and doing an assembly if she was bored.

Mrs Sands told the children that she was looking forward to getting a new puppy and spending more time with her grandchildren.

When Mrs Sands had located all of her special documents the whole school surprised her with a special assembly where the children sang a song written especially.

Sarah Latimer, deputy head teacher of the school, said: “All the staff at Spring Meadow Infant and Nursery School would like to thank her for being an outstanding head teacher and for her commitment to providing a happy, safe and caring school for the children and their families.”