Ref. 30069-08THE HEADTEACHER of a Cricklade junior school is leaving on a high after 25 years.

St Sampson's Junior School head Mike Ferris says he will miss working with children and his talented colleagues when he retires but feels it is the right time to go.

"It is an appropriate stage to leave," he said. "We had an extremely successful Ofsted report, some great plays and good sports results recently. It's nice to leave on a high."

He has fond memories of being soaked at school fetes and trips to the Isle of Wight, even though he sustained several injuries over the years, including a broken arm and an ankle injury.

"I tend to be a hands-on headteacher," he said.

"I still get much pleasure working with children."

Due to his length of service, Mr Ferris used to teach the parents of many of his present pupils.

And he says that continuity has helped forge a strong bond between the school and the community, resulting in well-attended school events.

Mr Ferris will be saying goodbye to pupils, parents and colleagues both past and present at a picnic in the school grounds next month.

The school's last Govern-ment inspection in October said the headteacher's "com-mitment to inclusion for all pupils permeates the ethos of the school." The report also stated standards at the school were above the national average.

Mr Ferris thinks the success of the school rests on the equal importance the school gives to non-academic subjects like art, sport and drama.

"We have not focused on English, maths and science as the kingpins of education to the extent that everything else must suffer," he said.

"We have kept our vision of what is right in education all the way through.

"It is just as important what a child is like as well as what a child can academically achieve. I want children to leave the school feeling self-confident.

"I was delighted with the comments made in the Ofsted report because it confirmed the vision we have in place at the school is working.

"The highlights have been seeing children really enthusiastic and interested in something, especially if they are not academic, because they can have their moment."

Before joining St Sampson's Mr Ferris was the deputy head at a middle school in Dorset.

"My time there gave me a clear understanding of what 11-year-olds could achieve if the targets are set high."

Mr Ferris said retirement would mean more time with his wife Jill.

The couple are going to Iceland in September a time when he is usually not allowed to take a break

"It's a big year for both me and my wife. I'm retiring, we both turn 60, we would have been married 40 years," he said.

"She has given me 100 per cent support, giving me the time I need to do this job, and it's time I paid some back."

The couple have two sons and four grandchildren.

Everyone is welcome to his retirement picnic on Sunday, July 18 .

It begins at 11.45am with a presentation at 1.30pm.

Bhavani Vadde