"Education is the lighting of a fire, not the filling of a bucket."
Margaret, known for much of her teaching career as 'Miss Astley' – until her marriage to Brian seven years ago – has considered these words of wisdom many times over the decades and still believes in the same principles she set out to uphold as a mature teaching student in the l970s.
Now, retiring from St Mary's Catholic Primary School at Chipping after her 12-year headship, she says: "I have always felt the education of children is about drawing out and giving them the time and space to become who they are. It has always been my central principle, together with strong gospel values...
"But to what extent I have achieved this I don't know."
Margaret, who lives in Alston, on the outskirts of Longridge, also believes children have the right to be respected, one of the critical things being to build their confidence which, she feels, should be an authentic confidence.
"It really is the key to so much. A lot of life is about having the confidence to make mistakes and be risk takers.
"Empowering children gives me the greatest exhilaration and to hear children saying something like 'I'll do that' when you say you need something doing is wonderful, as is seeing them become risk takers and taking charge of their own learning."
"When children leave St Mary's I hope they have strong gospel values and a strong sense of social justice to guide them through life.
"Another key thing is to be kind to others and to be able to maintain and develop relationships. Also, I hope our pupils have an independence of mind as we set them off with a passion for learning."
Looking back on her own education at Alston Lane and St Cecilia's schools, she says further education was not originally an option. The third of five children, she left school at 15, just as 'O' levels were starting to be introduced.
Her first job was working as a printing assistant on The Longridge Advertiser (now the Longridge News) in Humber Street . From there she went on to try egg delivery, mill work and then a milk round with Harry Riding in Longridge which, she says, left her free in the afternoons to start thinking of a career and studying at Alston Hall.
Although she missed morning lessons, the determined young Margaret was allowed to continue her studies at Alston Hall and – hugely inspired by tutor Owen Kennedy – gained seven 'O' levels.
By this time, she was working on a nearby farm and as she started thinking of her next move, says agriculture was definitely in the running – alongside teaching.
But much as she loved working outdoors, as well as the early mornings and milking, she says she wasn't too keen when the animals went off to market.
Teaching won the day and an offer of a four-year teacher training course with degree was taken up at Chorley.
This provided an excellent grounding in the education of five-13-year-olds, also enabling her to study English, maths, geography, history, environmental studies, theory of education and child development.
One of her teacher training practices even saw her back in classes at Alston Lane.
But as she embarked on her teaching career in 1978, Mrs Smith says it was just like today – no jobs to be found.
However, after a spell teaching in Leyland; an enforced break when she broke her leg climbing Helvellyn and a spell in high schools in London, she returned north to teach at a boarding school in Whalley. Part time jobs followed at Longridge's St Wilfrid's and Alston Lane schools and eventually a full time position working with infants at St Mary's, Chipping, where she taught for five years.
It was then back to Longridge St Wilfrid's as co-ordinator of English in January '91, where she stayed until being appointed head of St Mary's in September '97. A local priest encouraged her to apply for this job, she said.
Her years at the helm of St Mary's have been purposeful, the school forever moving forward under her leadership, helped by a team of staff she can't praise enough.
Much emphasis has been placed on learning through whole school projects and many improvements made to the interior and exterior of St Mary's. One of the biggest changes has been the advances in technology.
Margaret says: "I have been very passionate about that and harnassing the technologies for personalised learning.
"It isn't just about the children, but about the whole community learning together. We are all equal and we are all learners.
Mrs Smith has fostered strong links with the church and village, where she has also made her home, and is looking forward to a busy retirement. Saying "a life needs purpose" and keen "to do some good," Mrs Smith aims to continue learning herself.
Be it a politics, philosophy or a photography course; learning Portugese or the piano, more involvement with the Chipping based Volunteer Brazil project or furthering her knowledge of favourite aspects of education, the list is endless. And that is not forgetting helping out in the Rwanda Charity Shop in Preston, letter writing, family and friends.
Mrs Smith knows she leaves St Mary's in excellent hands, hailing staff as "dedicated, inspirational and full of fun", and while she says she will miss the school community dearly, says it "will be a new and exciting chapter in St Mary's journey".
She thanked everyone who supported and inspired her over the years, and added: "Retirement is a great time for reflection and I have been thinking about the first day I went to school at Alston Lane with my two older brothers.
"I thought you only went for however long you wanted to. I didn't think I would have to go back the next day, so it is ironic really that I am still involved in education 50 years later."