AT the end of his final term as headteacher of WHS, Kevin O'Regan tells us of his hopes and fears for the new school system.

And mentions a book we haven't read, presumably in order to look deep and cool-like. If it were me I'd just get the man to write a nice press release (doesn't he soundbite well?) but I suppose that would mean I'd miss the fun of translating some rather illegible dodgy shorthand, so swings and roundabouts and that.

Speaking exclusively to Wolverley Whispers, Mr O'Regan said that he is greatly looking forward to assuming headship of the new school.

"I think the things that excite me the most about the new school are having people come at a younger age. That will be a huge advantage because it means we'll be able to get to know them and establish relationships with them before puberty really takes effect, and I think that's likely to give them a better time, particularly in years 9 and 10," he explains.

"I'm looking forward to having that wider age range; it's really interesting already the way that the current years 9 and 10 have changed and grown up, and I feel the house system will allow students, particularly the sixth formers, to build stronger leadership skills by encouraging them take more of a hand in the running of the school."

His main worry, he tells us, is the vast amount of work needed to keep the new school on course. "I don't even know if it will all get done," he says. "What with the new staff and so many new children having to find their feet, I think we may have a number of issues to resolve before the school is able to run smoothly. Obviously I am concerned about the fact that some bullying may be continued from middle schools which will have to be swiftly dealt with, and I think we're going to have a few issues on a more childish level than we're used to - but I'm confident we'll be able to resolve them."

However, he is still looking forward to taking in students from a younger age despite the attendant problems. "Having students from the age of 11 means that we will be able to help establish cogent learning patterns more easily. Everyone does exams these days, and there is definitely a lot of pressure on students to perform well. The new system will give students more time to learn with the same teachers and teaching styles, instead of being uprooted halfway through a key stage.

"Being given the status of Specialist Music College will certainly have its benefits, too - it means many of our facilities will be subsidised, and everyone will have access to more music and arts resources than we'd previously had. Because music is to become a larger part of school life, there will be even more opportunities for our students to become involved."

Mr O'Regan also spoke out in praise of the school's shift to becoming a C of E faith school. "I think it's important for teenagers to have some grounding in Christian values, and attending a faith school will help educate them in an ethos that, above all, advocates love and tolerance.

"Students and teachers will be shown a clear ethos and set of values, celebrating the gift of life - for everyone has their own gifts, and what we need to remember is that people in themselves are gifts. Really, we will be developing spirituality as opposed to actual religion; even atheists can partake without feeling excluded."

When asked how he thought students would adapt to the two-tier system, Mr O'Regan was optimistic. "The new students won't know any other system, so the only ones to be affected will be the current students. Obviously because of size issues and the greater risk of bullying, we will be splitting key stages three and four for break and lunch times, but I think the students will get used to the changes quickly enough.

"Initially, of course, it will be a bit odd for the older students, but I hope it will make them realise how close they are to adulthood and prompt them towards a certain maturity and sense of responsibility, as well as developing leadership skills.

"I was very much in favour of the shift to a two-tier school system, as were Wolverley's governors. I've worked in both two- and three-tier schools now, and I must say the two-tier system is far better. It's not fair to pupils to uproot them and make them move schools in the middle of puberty, as opposed to just at the beginning of it."

Mr O'Regan went on to say that he can see Wolverley becoming "much more successful" in the future. Citing the school's distinctive ethos and beautiful grounds, he explains: "Everything here is really good; we have a fantastic site and we're unique locally in our range of resources such as the ski slope and the separate sixth form building.

"In many ways we're a leader in the area; we've been providing a number of outdoor, land-based courses for a while, and they've proved a great success. Our value added, which is in many ways the most critical measure of how well a school is doing, is impressively good. It's important to us that every student is happy and achieves their full potential, and I think having church status will help enrich their experience here."

The head, who reveals his favourite book to be E M Forster's novel A Passage to India ("I've read it time and time again, and each time you realise the richness and emotions of the time. I like the way it requires the reader to contribute, hinting at themes and then developing them"), ascribes his success to his egalitarian policies and optimistic nature.

"Because I value everyone, I like to think I bring out the best in people. It's my nature to like people and to see the good in them, and while I'm sure some of the staff might suggest I'm overly soft on offenders, I'd say it' vital to have a great capacity for forgiveness. Most of our students are inherently good people, they just sometimes commit stupid deeds - whether it's out of bravado or brashness. What the vast majority of young people truly want is to feel loved, wanted and respected. Though I'm sure they're all vile at times, to their parents," he concludes with a twinkle!

Mr. O'Regan is also very enthusiastic about the staffing of the new school. He admits that all the interviews were time-consuming and often gruelling, but is pleased with the expertise of the appointed staff. "We will have a native French speaker Monsieur Brunat and a native Spanish teacher Signorina Gomez-Gomez as well as an AST (advanced skills teacher) for drama."

He pointed out that the great majority of WHS staff will be working at Wolverley C of E Secondary School. "A few members of staff have retired and some have moved to another part of the country, but very few have transferred to other schools in Wyre Forest, which bodes well for a smooth transition in September."

We left Mr O'Regan sitting at his desk, fielding frantic telephone calls about the new classrooms whilst also trying to deal with a vast amount of paperwork. Still, he looked calm and in control. Let's hope he can maintain that level of calmness in September!

By JENNY LOBLEY