A “wonderful” headteacher who is retiring after 17 years has been honoured for her dedication to her school.

Past and present pupils and staff gathered yesterday to thank Catherine Jordan and celebrate her time as head of St Agnes Catholic Primary School in Cricklewood.

The school choir and orchestra performed hymns during a mass led by Bishop John Sherrington.

Pupils gave readings and offered gifts including a thistle and a jumper, reflecting Mrs Jordan's Scottish roots and her time at the school.

Speaking to the school, Mrs Jordan praised the dedication of teachers and members of staff who have supported her over the years.

She said: “I am very proud to have led St Agnes for 17 years. It is a real honour to have held such a position and I will cherish my memories of those years forever.”

She added: “One of the younger children said I was leaving because I had been at the school since I was born and I was now tired. Its true I am tired, but there’s still some life in me.”

With the theme tune to the Great Escape playing in the background, Mrs Jordan talked about what she might do with her retirement, from spending time gathering items for her vintage emporium in Crews Hill to going bungee jumping.

As the children filed out to the sound of bagpipes, the Barnet resident, who has been at the school since 1984, said: “The mass captured my essence.

"I am really touched at how wonderful this afternoon has been.”

Pupils wrote letters to the Times Series, praising the “best head teacher ever”and asking for her picture to be in the newspaper “because she is very pretty". 

One child wrote that Mrs Jordan had “worked hard to make the school a better place to be and a good place for education.

Another wrote: “She is fantastic and has always treated us with love, respect and care.”

Teacher Gorana Henry said she had encouraged the children to practice their persuasive writing skills to communicate the “love and respect” they had for Mrs Jordan.

She said: “She has been a wonderful head, she has done such a great job for so long.

“We don’t know what we're going to do without her.”