A LONG-SERVING Pershore headteacher has revealed his plans to retire at the end of the current school year.
Clive Corbett confirmed his intention to stand down in a letter to parents and students on Tuesday (December 6) in which he said it was with ‘great sadness’ he would be leaving the school after 21 years.
He first joined the school as deputy headteacher in 1996, before taking over the reins as headteacher in September of that year.
During Clive’s time in charge Pershore High has become one of the best performing schools in Worcestershire.
A passionate campaigner for fairer funding for Worcestershire’s schools, Mr Corbett constantly spoke out against the low level of money given to the county’s schools in comparison with areas such as Birmingham.
He also provoked much discussion in 2015 with plans to extend the Station Road school’s age range to include year seven pupils, aged 11 and 12, but the proposals were later scrapped following a public consultation.
The dedicated headteacher also showcased his passion for his beloved Wolverhampton Wanderers earlier this year by ghost writing ‘The Valley Wanderer – The Mike Bailey Story’.
“It is with great sadness I have decided to retire as headteacher at the end of the current academic year,” he said.
“I made the decision some years ago that I would hand over the reins on my sixtieth birthday, August 3 2017, and now that time is all too fast approaching.
“Having had 21 fantastic years at Pershore I consider myself very fortunate to have been part of such a magnificent school for so long.
“Thank you so much to you all for your support and I expect you to continue to do everything possible to take advantage of the great opportunities, both inside and outside the classroom, that you are offered here,” he added.
School governors have also confirmed long-serving deputy headteacher Phil Hanson will take over as acting headteacher for one year from September 2017.
