A TEACHER who is retiring after more than 30 years says his favourite thing about the job was the “wonderful buzz of inspiring children.”

Stephen Murray started his career at Epping Forest High School in 1981 before taking a job at Roding Valley High School in 1989, where he has been ever since.

The 58-year-old teaches humanities including history, psychology and politics and says he has loved every minute.

He said: “I enjoyed the last lesson I ever taught – with a group of Year 8s – as much as the first lesson I ever taught 36 years ago, and all the lessons in between.

“Working with young people has been very inspirational. Seeing them make progress and overcoming things they find difficult and helping them develop, is a wonderful feeling.

“It’s been such a buzz and I’ll really miss it.”

In his three decades on the job, he says he has fond memories of accompanying students on Duke of Edinburgh trips in the South Downs.

“Seeing the satisfaction they get when they achieve an expedition was always very rewarding,” he said.

But one of his many highlights was in the last two years, when Roding Valley was given a sixth form – ending “28 years of hurt” when most other secondary schools lost theirs.

He can remember as far back as when Roding Valley was a building site in Alderton Hill and how it spent its first year in four different sites, with teachers having to take taxis to lessons.

Over the years, he has seen many changes to education and the curriculum, including the introduction of technology and data driven targets, as well as funding cuts.

But now, he is looking forward to his retirement and continuing his other job as an Independent councillor on Epping Forest District Council’s Roding ward.

He said: “I’ve always been community minded so being a councillor and being a teacher have gone hand in hand.

“I’ve always been committed to both jobs.

“The two careers have mirrored eachother and support eachother.”

He also plans to focus his efforts on volunteering work – including helping out at the Epping Forest Foodbank and taking more responsibility at the Loughton Methodist Church.

Mr Murray also hopes to join the volunteer group on the Roding Valley Nature Reserve.

“It’s been a privilege to teach other children and watch them make progress.

“I have always regarded teaching as a great job and I wouldn’t have wanted any other career,” he added.