THE headteacher of King Charles I School and Sixth Form Centre in Kidderminster is retiring after 10 years in the role.

Tim Gulliver, who joined the school in 1991 as deputy head before being promoted in 2004, completed his last term-time day in charge on Friday, July 18 and is planning to use his retirement to spend more time with his children Ben, 14 and Charlotte, 12.

The 59-year-old, who will continue in the role until his official last day on August 31, said: “It has been a privilege to spend part of my career in such beautiful surroundings, with so very many fantastic young people, staff, parents and governors.

“I have worked with thousands of polite, enthusiastic, hardworking and engaging youngsters, who have never failed to amaze me with what they can do inside and outside of school.

“I am very proud of the broad education the school has provided during my time as headteacher.

“It has often been a challenging job, I hope one of my legacies as headteacher will be improvements made to the site.”

Mr Gulliver added it had been a pleasure working with other headteachers and staff at The ContinU Trust, a charitable partnership of secondary schools in Wyre Forest and Hagley, as well as with the Old Girls’ Association and Old Carolians’ Association.

The headteacher, who previously taught history and sociology at schools in Milton Keynes and West Sussex, will continue to volunteer with Kemp Hospice and the John Weston Stretton of Kidderminster Charity during his retirement.

He is also planning a charity fundraising climb of Mount Kilimanjaro and will watch Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club home and away next season.

Mr Gulliver will be replaced by Stephen Brownlow, the current headteacher at Tudor Grange Academy in Redditch, who was born in Stourport and attended the town’s high school as a child.

Mr Brownlow said: “I am really excited to be taking up the post of headteacher at a school which has such tradition and history.”