Teaching Assistant celebrates 30 years in job

A teaching assistant at an Ashington primary is celebrating an impressive 30 years in her role at the school.

Formerly an accountant, Val Waggott joined St Aidan’s Catholic Primary as a classroom assistant in 1994, and has seen both her children go through the school, while her grandchildren are currently pupils there.

“I was initially a volunteer at the school,” she explained. “My children had started there, so I went into school to help out and found I quite liked it.

“I then became a Teaching Assistant, focusing on Maths, as that was my thing.

Over her three decades at St Aidan’s, Mrs Waggott has seen the school change from a first school to a primary, with an accompanying move in premises, and she also had a starring role to play in 2012 when she held the Olympic Torch when it visited the school on its way to the opening ceremony of the London Olympics.

“There have been a huge amount of changes, and this is my fourth head teacher,” continued the 63-year-old, who lives in Ashington. “I counted up that I’ve worked with over 90 different members of staff since I’ve been at the school.”

A presentation assembly was held to celebrate the mile-stone anniversary, where Headteacher David Sutcliffe presented Mrs Waggott with gifts of flowers, a framed print, a voucher for afternoon tea, and a staff collection, as well as a commemorative certificate. 

“I felt terrified, as it was the first time in all my years there that I’d ever stood in front of the whole school with all those eyes on me,” she said. “It was very emotional, and I was crying.

“They also had lunch in the staff room for me. I was very moved.”

As well as being the longest-serving, Mrs Waggott is the oldest member of staff at St Aidan’s, which is part of the Bishop Bewick Catholic Education Trust.

“There have been quite a few characters at the school who have tried to guess my age,” she added. “In History, I had some of the children asking if I’d been a Suffragette!

“I’d like to say thank you to everyone I’ve worked with. They’ve made it what it’s been. It’s not about me. It’s about all the children and all the staff over the years that have made St Aidan’s such a special place to be. That’s why I’m still here.”