WHEN the bell rings at a Cleobury Mortimer school for the final time this term, the eight-year tenure of its “outstanding” headteacher will come to an end.

Allan Gilhooley has announced his retirement and will leave the Lacon Childe School at the end of the academic year. He will go on to work part-time in education, taking part in a research project into teacher training.

He will be succeeded from September 1 by Darren Reynolds, who is currently deputy head at the Chantry School in Martley, near Worcester.

Mr Gilhooley said: “It has been a great time at Lacon. It’s a fantastic school with excellent staff and brilliant children and I’ve been glad to play a part in its success.

“The school will always have a special place in my heart and I’m sure Mr Reynolds will take the school on to new successes.”

As well as concentrating on the research project, Mr Gilhooley said he was looking forward to being with his family and spending more time in the mountains of Britain and Europe.

Cleobury Mortimer’s MP, Conservative Philip Dunne, said he had visited Lacon Childe to thank the outgoing headteacher “for his outstanding work in guiding the school over the past eight years”.

“He has taken the school steadily forward, achieving sporting excellence within the sports college status,” he added. “I wish him well in his retirement.”

Mr Gilhooley had originally taught at the school more than 20 years ago, returning as headteacher in 2005.