TWO of the Swindon's most respected figures in education have stepped down this summer.

Chris Gale has resigned as Ridgeway School's chairman of governors after 10 years.

And Barry Fenby has retired as head of Dorcan School after 28 years in charge.

Mr Fenby is the longest serving secondary head in Swindon, having joined the school in 1973, just three years after it opened.

Mrs Gale is chairwoman of the National Governors Council and has worked with the Government on drafting the new education bill.

She said: "I have had a wonderful time at Ridgeway and continue to be inspired by the dedicated and talented staff there.

"When I took the job I said I would do it for ten years, and as chairman of the governors, if you can't achieve what you want in five years the chances are you will not achieve it."

Ridgeway also said goodbye to Ed Lees, their popular head of science who had worked at the school for 22 years.

Mr Fenby was much loved at Dorcan and has promised to make return visits in the future.

Another loss to Dorcan is school bursar Jacki Pitt, who joined Dorcan on the day it opened in 1970.

Joining as a science technician, she moved into administration and retired as school bursar.