AFTER 21 years of service leading one of the city's primary schools, for Newport headteacher Ann Picton swapping the classroom for the courtroom is an option when she retires next month.

Mrs Picton will retire on July 20 after taking over the headteacher role at Clytha Primary School back in May 1990.

But while the end of her teaching career will be an emotional moment, becoming a magistrate is a new possibility.

She said: "To be honest I don't know how I will do without the school.

"It's a phenomenal area and wonderful school and when you're so used to working long days, it is going to be difficult to adjust.

"I feel becoming a magistrate is my way of giving something back."

Born in Nottinghamshire, Mrs Picton, 62, began her teaching career in Glasgow.

She became headteacher at Clytha Primary following her role as deputy head at Caerleon Lodge Hill Infants.

Having been in the career for so long, she has seen many changes including the introduction of the national curriculum and the Welsh Assemblys play-based foundation phase curriculum.

Her time at Clytha Primary has also seen a new nursery set up while ICT provision has greatly improved with interactive whiteboards and other gadgets and gizmos.

Mrs Picton, who is mother to three and grandmother to four with another grandchild on the way, will now leave the school on an extreme high after Estyn inspectors rated both the school's current performance and its prospects for improvement as 'excellent'.

For the headteacher though, the hardest thing to walk away from will be seeing the children develop and progress which she considers her greatest achievement.

She said: "We have had children go on to become doctors, lawyers, solicitors and opening their own businesses. Lots have done exceptionally well.

"There's never a dull moment in seeing children progress."

Mrs Picton, who is married to Bill, will see her current deputy head Ann Reece take over in September who she says she is "absolutely delighted" to be handing the role over to.

Mrs Picton will mark the end of her teaching career by sharing an afternoon tea with staff and advisors who she has worked with over the years as well as a party with her staff and pupils.