THE headteacher of a village primary school which has faced sweeping changes during her three-decade tenure has decided to “retire while I’m on top”.

Eirian Owain says she remembers the first computer that was brought into Ysgol Bro Dyfrdwy, in the village of Cynwyd, and “trying to work out how to switch it on”. But the biggest challenge of her 31-year tenure came more recently, when the bilingual school also became home to Ysgol Llandrillo which closed in 2012 following “heated” protests.

Mrs Owain, from Llangollen, began as the infant teacher – now called foundation phase – of Ysgol Bro Dyfrdwy early in her career in 1980. She went on to be appointed to more senior roles until she replaced the retiring headteacher Richard Evans in 1988.

Over the following three decades the Welsh medium school, like many in Wales, adapted to several national curriculum changes and the implementation of ICT, though few were overseen during the period by one headteacher.

“There have been a lot of changes during my time at the school but I can say hand on heart that it has been an honour and a pleasure,” she said. “I have worked with a fantastic group of teachers, and parents of the school have been very supportive.

“ICT has been the most important change and it has brought a lot of positives in how it drives children’s learning. It is the way forward and it is the role of schools to help their pupils to thrive in life in the 21st century.”

Mrs Owain had two decades of experience at the helm when Denbighshire County Council required the village school to bring in pupils from Ysgol Llandrillo after it was shut down against the community’s will.

“Many parents did not want the schools to close and there were heated arguments. It was a big challenge but we were able to unite the communities and now we are one big community.

“I consider it one of my greatest achievements.”

The school, which now caters for 120 pupils, has a strong attitude to the Welsh language and all its pupils become fluent in both Welsh and English irrelevant of what is spoken at home.

“Teaching children the Welsh language, our country’s traditions and to be proud of our heritage is so important to me,” Mrs Owain said. “I think that every school in Wales should be bilingual, particularly if the Welsh Government wants to meet its target for 1 million Welsh speakers by 2050.”

Mrs Owain is pleased with the direction Ysgol Bro Dyfrdwy is headed under her successor Bethan Thomson, and said she is retiring “while I’m still enjoying it”. “It doesn’t feel like 31 years, time has flown by. I have full confidence in Bethan and wish her the very best.”

Mabon ap Gwynfor, Cynwyd county councillor, said: “Eirian Owain has taught generations of our children and ensured that they get the best possible start in life, caring for them while ensuring that they are treated equally.

“Eirian’s presence and wisdom meant that the children of both Cynwyd and Llandrillo became firm friends.

“We’ll forever be in her debt, and I wish her all the best with her retirement.”