ALTHOUGH it seems like only a few months since I interviewed the newly appointed head teacher, Richard North, for this newspaper – in fact it was five years ago. And what a lot has happened in those intervening five years!

Following Mr North’s surprise announcement that he would be leaving Wolverley in December this year it seemed an opportune time to find out whether or not his experience had changed his views in any way.

The first question to ask was, of course, why. Mr North reassured me that there was no “sinister” reason for his departure. He said: “As a family, we have reached that stage when everything is changing: my son is graduating from university this year and my daughter is starting her university course in September, leaving my wife and me with an ‘empty nest’.” He and his wife are moving to the north of England where they can indulge in their favourite pastime: hill walking.

After 26 years of teaching, 10 years of which he has been a head, Mr North is looking forward to a rather less pressured way of life. “I’ve got nearly 20 years to go before I can officially retire,” he laughed. He has no intention of leaving education and will be looking at a variety of posts within the sector.

When asked about his achievements over the past five years, Mr North recalled the impact of the schools’ re-organisation programme when middle schools in the area were shut and the local high schools became secondary schools which took place the year before he took up his post.

He said: “When I arrived at Wolverley the impact was still being felt. It was the job of the teaching staff and members of SLT to ensure that all the students were cushioned, as far as possible, from the many problems and difficulties that arose, and that their teaching and learning was not compromised. I feel immensely proud that we managed to achieve as much as we did.”

Another achievement of which Mr North is proud is the impact of our Church of England status and he cited last year’s Church Inspection as a source of great satisfaction. “To be classed as “outstanding” by the CofE Inspectorate is a fantastic outcome,” he said. The report referred to “The positive Christian ethos of the school [which] ensures all pupils are valued.” and went on to comment: “The vision of the head teacher… is creating …a happy and secure learning environment.”

The brilliant exam results in 2012 are, of course, a further source of great pride and satisfaction to the head and he was quick to praise everyone involved. “We were named as one of the top 100 most improved schools in the whole country – an achievement that would gladden the heart of any head teacher.” He also pointed out that the year group was the first to have started at Wolverley in year seven. Asked whether he would leave Wolverley with any regrets, Mr North replied: “I am a great believer in looking forward with hope and optimism rather than looking back.”

However, he did voice some concerns about the direction in which education as a whole appears to be being taken, especially the fact that more and more initiatives and decisions seem to ignore the importance of the very people who should be at the heart of any and every decision: the students.

Mr North was anxious to point out that this was not a criticism of any particular political party. “Education has become a political football, used by politicians of every party, whose first concerns are for promoting their own ideals rather than focusing on the needs of the younger generation.”

Given his commitment to excellence in education and his core Christian beliefs it came as no surprise that, when asked about his hopes for Wolverley’s future Mr North said, without any hesitation, that if teaching and learning continued to be at the heart of the school’s ethos, along with its current commitment to embracing and promoting the principles of respect, gratitude, love and tolerance, then WCESS will continue to grow in strength and purpose.

Did he have any advice for his successor? “I would only say that WCESS is blessed with talented, hard-working staff: cherish them. And I would add that each one of our students brings something special and it is well worth getting to know them as individuals.”

Back in 2007 Mr North was asked to name his favourite biscuit and he chose chocolate digestives. Any change in the last five years? Apparently not – but he reckons his consumption has gone up!

When he leaves in December, Mr North will be taking with him the best wishes of past and present staff and students and our hopes that he finds enjoyment and fulfilment in his new life.