Staff and children at schools across Derbyshire are saying goodbye to much-loved teachers as the term comes to an end.
YOU "just know" when the time is right to leave, according to retiring head teacher Dr Chris Reynolds.
He has completed 45 years in teaching – 30 of which he has spent as a head teacher, firstly at St Thomas More School, in Allenton, and then for 28 years at St Benedict Catholic Academy, in Darley Abbey.
And he is a year over the regular retirement age at 66, although you would never guess so because of his vitality and enthusiasm for the job.
Mr Reynolds said: "Many things have happened during my career and there have been many changes in education over the years.
"But there was a moment last year when I took stock of life generally and realised that the school is in a good position physically and academically and it was time to look to the future.
"A particular turning point was following our most recent inspection when a woman from the Office for Standards in Education had remarked on something I had written in a report.
"I had said that St Benedict school is a 'special place' and she added 'and I think it is', which gave me a tremendous boost."
Over the years, Mr Reynolds has combined his work as head teacher at the school with duties connected with examining boards, which has enabled him to see many changes in the education system.
"Some are for the better and some are not," he remarked.
"But I intend to carry on working with the Chartered Institute of Educational Assessors, which oversees excellence in assessment in schools, offering a kind of kite mark."
Originating from the Birmingham area, Mr Reynolds entered teaching almost by accident.
He said: "I was very keen on drama and PE at school and had an assistant management job lined up for when I left.
"One of the teachers asked me what I would be doing as a career and, when I told him, it was suggested that I would get nowhere with it.
"He said to me, 'Get a job that combines your hobbies and interests and you can't go wrong'.
"I thought about it and decided to apply to train to be a teacher specialising in PE and drama. The rest, as they say, is history."
Within a short time of entering teacher training, the profession became a degree subject and resulted in Mr Reynolds spending four years studying part-time, two evenings each week, to gain his qualification.
Since then, he has gone on to complete a Masters in education and, about eight or nine years ago, gained a doctorate.
Since Mr Reynolds took over as head of what was then Ralph Sherwin School, later to be renamed after St Benedict, the changes have included a growth in the number of students' nationalities at the school.
He said: "We take pupils from across the Catholic diocese, which includes 42 primary schools, 40% of which are in the most deprived areas of Derby, and we have 38 nationalities.
"We have developed a centre for blind and visually-impaired pupils, which has about 28 children now but has had up to 42.
"And we have seen the expansion of the Robert Ludlam Theatre, at which I have been proud to help produce shows and will miss very much.
Mr Reynolds won the OBE for his services to education and the arts in 2002.
He has also managed to keep up his sports interest.
In the 1990s, he was county champion in the hammer and, in the early 2000s, was a champion in the 200-metre breast stroke.
More recently, he came seventh in the world championships for swimming for people of comparable age.
But throughout his life and career, Mr Reynolds, who will now be able to spend more time with his children and grandchildren in the UK and US, has been sustained by his faith.
So it was with great delight and pleasure when he was presented with a Papal Knighthood of the Order of Saint Gregory the Great at a recent St Benedict Mass celebration at the school.
The award is given by the Pope following recommendation by the diocesan bishop to Rome.
Dr Reynolds said: "Everyone knew about it but me.
"My wife said she struggled not to tell me at times.
"But I feel so honoured to receive this.
"I was also given numerous medals to wear on my chest and a ceremonial outfit I can use to attend an official function I am invited to by the diocesan bishop.
"I have loved my time in education but I haven't given up yet."
