Mariel Sugden hangs up her teaching hat after half a century in the classroom

Mariel Sugden

Dedicated teaching veteran Mariel Sugden has decided to hang up her teaching hat after a remarkable 50 years in the classrooms of various local schools.

The Littleborough born and bred science teacher said that the children kept her young throughout the five decades, and says that she is going to “miss dearly” her loved career.

Miss Sugden started her teaching journey as a young graduate at the (then called) Littleborough Secondary School, now Littleborough Community Primary School on Whitelees Road.

Hired as a supply teacher, her passion shone through and it wasn’t long before she became a permanent fixture in the school, teaching RE and science.

Half a century later, Miss Sugden was still in front of a blackboard, now at Beech House School where she had been for almost 20 years before finally departing last Friday (15 July).

There have been some notable changes over the past five decades, says Miss Sugden, both in the educational system and in teaching, but one thing had always remained, her passion for the children and her enjoyment at watching them progress.

Speaking to Rochdale Online, Miss Sugden said: “The time has gone quickly. I remember finishing college a day early to begin my first teaching job at Littleborough Secondary School back in the 1960s. It is a strange feeling to have finished, but I don’t think it will hit me properly until September when the school year begins and I’m not going to school.”

She added: “There are some aspects of the job, like marking, school inspections and admin work, that I have to say I won’t miss quite as much, but the job itself and the children I will certainly miss.

“It was wonderful to watch them grow and watch them progress over the years, especially when you get those who are interested in science and want to pursue a career in that field.”

Miss Sugden was from a family of teachers - her father was the head teacher of Newhey St Thomas School, and her mother worked there as a teacher when Miss Sugden was a pupil.

She continued: “It’s certainly in the family and teaching was what I was meant to do.”

Former Beech House School pupil Heather Gee said: “Miss Sugden taught me science in in my primary years at Beech House, I learnt a lot in her lessons, she was a brilliant teacher and she made science so much fun. I hope she has a wonderful retirement as she deserves it.”

Grace Cosgrave, a former Beech House School pupil, said: “While I was at Beech House, one of my favourite subjects was science and it was all thanks to Miss Sugden, truly a great teacher.”

Miss Sugden says she is looking forward to having more time to relax in her first weeks of retirement.