Ref. 29755-25KEITH Cozens has said goodbye to Even Swindon Junior School after 20 happy years at the helm.

The 54-year-old headteacher has retired to spend more time exploring the countryside and writing poetry.

He is also intending to help out in a Somerset teashop run by his wife, whom he married last month.

Mr Cozens, of Castle Eaton, joined the school in 1984 when it was based in Hughes Street, now the site of the infant school, and followed it to its current site in Raybrook Park in 1997.

Last year, the football-mad headteacher, a lifelong Plymouth Argyle fan, had the honour of leading his team into battle against Swindon Town as their mascot. Earlier this week he saw his school win a special award from the FA.

Mr Cozens said he felt good about the state of the school he was leaving after two decades.

An Ofsted inspectors' report published last month described the school, which teaches 200 pupils aged from seven to 11, as "improving," and praised staff teamwork and teaching.

"We have always tried to maintain a broad curriculum here, without giving up arts and practical activities.

"Ofsted recognised the school has an exciting approach, and it's in a very strong position."

Mr Cozens, who fellow staff described as "Mr Rodbourne", said he would miss the buzz of activity as well as the parents and children.

"I have had a lot of pleasure working with the community of Even Swindon and Rodbourne," he said.

"There was a great spirit here in the latter days of the railway works and although Swindon has moved on the community feeling still exists."

Emma Pearce, administration officer at the school, said: "He's well loved and he'll be missed by the staff and the community enormously."

Mr Cozens' retirement was enabled by the federation of Even Swindon Junior School and the nearby infant school at the beginning of the year.

The new arrangement paves the way to full amalgamation on an expanded junior school site in 2005. In preparation for this the two schools' governing bodies have already joined forces.

The headteacher of the infant school, Michael Keeling, takes over as head of both schools from today.

Andy Tate