A POPULAR headteacher has announced that he will retire at the end of the year.

The headteacher of Pershore High School Clive Corbett is set to hand over the reins at the end of his 15th year in charge.

Mr Corbett joined the school as deputy headteacher in January 1996 before becoming headteacher in September 2002.

He said: "It is with great sadness that I announce to you that I have decided to retire as Headteacher at the end of the current academic year.

"I made the decision some years ago that I would hand over the reins on my sixtieth birthday, 31st August 2017, and now that time is all too fast approaching.

"Having had 21 fantastic years at Pershore I consider myself very fortunate to have been part of such a magnificent school for so long.

"Thank you so much to you all for your support and I expect you to continue to do everything possible to take advantage of the great opportunities, both inside and outside the classroom, that you are offered here."

In a letter to parents and carers, Rob Phillips, chairman of the governors at the school said: "During Clive’s tenure as headteacher, the school has gone from strength to strength and become one of the best performing schools in Worcestershire.

"Clive’s dedication to the children and young people has been absolute and he has established the high standards and the positive and forward looking culture that the school enjoys today.

"Clive has also enabled staff to develop and move on in their careers and afforded many the opportunity to realise their full potential.

"Clive’s leadership has been inspirational as has his ability to establish an outward looking approach to making links with the community on local, national and international levels.

"Clive’s legacy to the school will be the continuation and growth of these values and the enormous wealth of experience that he has passed on to the Leadership Team and all staff.

"The school will greatly miss Clive but will be empowered by the knowledge that it will continue to have a strong Leadership Team and a positive, outward looking strategy for future growth and development."

Current deputy headteacher Phil Hanson will takeover as acting headteacher for an initial one year, starting on September 1 2017.