LONG-serving Glenda Sherwood reached a personal milestone this month when she chalked up 40 years service at The Wordsley School.

The loyal 63-year-old from Kidderminster joined the teaching staff back in April 1975 as head of girls practical subjects and rose to become assistant headteacher.

Mrs Sherwood, who spent 18 months at Bewdley High School in her first teaching role since leaving university, said: "Buckpool School, as it was known, wasn't even completely built when I joined the staff, but my post was urgent at the time.

"When I arrived at Buckpool, I'd got it into my head that I would do three to five years before moving onto the next step.

"But every time I thought about moving on, the head would always offer me something else within the school - and that's been the story of my life."

During her time at the Brierley Hill Road school - Mrs Sherwood has worked in a variety of roles including as cross curricular co-ordinator, GNVQ co-ordinator, head of design and technology and senior curriculum area leader.

Mrs Sherwood added: "Teaching has changed so much since I first started, but I've always enjoyed it. The children are what I'd describe as good Black Country kids, while the staff have been great.

"We've always worked as a team and that has helped move the school forward."

Staff marked Mrs Sherwood's teaching milestone by launching 7,800 balloons - representing every day she has worked at the school.