Head checks out after 16 years

Stephen Rigby with pupils

IT’S checkmate for head teacher Stephen Rigby who is retiring after 16 years at the helm of Christ Church Primary School.

But he will remain a regular visitor, continuing to run the hugely successful 3Cs Chess Club which he set up 28 years ago and is based at the Chadderton school.

Mr Rigby first joined Christ Church in October, 1971, as a student teacher and left in the mid 1980s.

He was deputy head at St Thomas’s Leesfield and head teacher at Friezland before returning to the school as only its second head teacher.

“I always knew I wanted to work in a church school,” explained the 57-year-old father-of-two. “They have a very individual character. It is the sort of school the community wants and it reflects its community. I have so many memories of wonderful things. I do not regret any of it and I would do it all again.

“I will miss the involvement with the children. Some of the families I have known for a long time — many of them I taught when they were children.”

The fervent rugby league fan does match analysis for Salford City Reds and also ran Oldham Town Team Rugby.

Chairman of Oldham Schools Chess Association, he is passionate about the game and immensely proud of the 3CS, the borough’s centre of chess excellence with has produced international players.

Christ Church were national England schools chess champions in 1997, and he added: “That was one of the absolute highlights because you do not get many national champions in Oldham. It was an amazing achievement for the children.”

Mr Rigby retires tomorrow and is flying to New Zealand later in the year to meet sons Matthew and Oliver, who live in Australia, before attending the Rugby League World Cup, also in Australia.

The keen motorcyclist is also planning a tour of Britain and will continue as an Ofsted inspector.

Pupils staged a farewell concert called “Please Mr Rigby” attended by more than 500 people.

Deputy head Debra Payton will become the school’s first female head teacher.