When Linda Wybar started as headteacher in 1999 she says the school had leaking roofs, many mobile classrooms and a boiler that had packed in.

Now, as her retirement looms almost 25 years on, the 65-year-old reflects on how Tunbridge Wells Girls’ Grammar School (TWGGS) has changed, but also, even more importantly, how its values and “strong community” have remained the same.

During her time at the school in Southfield Road, Linda has witnessed it grow from 800 pupils to 1100, alongside the improvement of existing facilities and the creation of new ones.

Some of the projects include a new canteen, refurbished science laboratories, a new sports hall, all weather pitch, music block extension and a new Sixth Form centre.

In addition, TWGGS has received two “Outstanding” Ofsted reports during her time as headteacher, but while she calls this result “fabulous”, she says she had found more pleasure in seeing “individuals really excel against the odds”.

Linda, from Langton Green added: “What’s really important about the school is the values haven’t changed - so the school’s moto is give your best - and that’s remained the same throughout all of that time.

“And right from the very beginning we really pride ourselves on being a strong community and I would say that’s still the most important thing to us.”

Talking of the challenges and accomplishments throughout the years she said the most memorable moments were “lots of small things rather than the big ones”.

“Seeing a child who may have had a difficult background or difficult time, doing well and surprising themselves and seeing young people achieve or show confidence in something they didn’t have before – those are the standout moments,” she added.

But Linda, who began her career as an English teacher, also noted the difficult times the school had faced, such as the death of pupils.

In those moments she said the strength of the community had always got the staff and students through.

“Schools are all about people really, so I think both the highs and the lows tend to be associated with people,” she said.

“It’s a remarkably strong community, people support one another, whether its staff supporting pupils or staff supporting one another or pupils supporting one another - that’s really intrinsic to the values of the school.”

Because of the people, Linda says it was a “difficult” decision to retire but decided two years ago that she wanted to go “before I couldn’t do the job really well anymore”.

As part of her transition to full retirement, she has spent the past two years working with Katie Marchant, who is the new headteacher from September, to work together to facilitate a gradual handover as part of an “innovative leadership succession model”.

“I know I’m leaving a school in incredibly strong hands,” Linda added.

And after spending 25 years at the school, the headteacher attributes the ever-changing nature of the job for retaining her loyalty and said: “It’s a very hard school to leave.”

As a tribute to Linda’s dedication as headteacher, the Performing Arts Centre has been renamed the Linda Wybar Theatre, which was formalised in a ceremony at the beginning of July.

“I was very humbled and quite overwhelmed by the gesture, it’s lovely to think there’s a little part of TWGGS that will bear my name in the future,” she added.

In her message to those at the school she said: “From the bottom of my heart thank you, schools are about people and if I didn’t have the pleasure and the privilege of working with such fabulous people, and I count that as both pupils and staff, then it wouldn’t be the very special place that it is.”

Linda’s last day at school is on August 31.

But despite having lived by plans, schedules and timetables for over 40 years she hasn’t got too many firm plans for retirement.

Instead, she hopes to spend time with her granddaughter, visit the theatre more and go on some holidays.

Becky Miller, who had attended TWGGS as a pupil from 2004, and is now the Assistant Headteacher Pastoral said: “Linda has been a phenomenal headteacher in her time here.

“She’s driven a lot of change and been really successful in the stuff that she has started and her commitment to the school, particularly in terms of us as individuals, pupils and the staff now.

“She has been a driver for quite a lot of change in terms of improvements, particularly around new buildings.

“She will be missed.”

On behalf of TWGGS staff, another added: “Not only has she built a strong team and a remarkable community, Mrs Wybar is to be credited with revolutionising the fabric of the school too.

“Her tenacity in raising funds and driving projects forward has resulted in an array of new teaching spaces.

“In the tradition of naming buildings for iconic headteachers, to honour everything she has done for the school, the Performing Arts Centre has been renamed The Linda Wybar Theatre.

“This is a fitting tribute to her, not only because it is yet another building which took shape under her leadership, but also because of the outstanding English teacher and lover of the arts that she is, and will ensure her name lives on in TWGGS.

“But more than this, beyond the building, the TWGGS ethos that Mrs Wybar has shaped is carried by the pupils of the school, ensuring that her legacy is felt far beyond its walls.”