A HEADTEACHER who has spent 15 years leading a secondary school is retiring.

Staff and pupils at The Hurst Community College are saying goodbye to Malcolm Christian.

Mr Christian has steered the school to achieve a “good” rating from Ofsted following an inspection in May.

He is also credited with introducing a house system during the early days of his leadership.

Before joining The Hurst, in Brimpton Road, Baughurst, Mr Christian, who grew up in Hull, enjoyed a long career, starting out as a geography teacher before progressing to become head of department.

He gained his first headship before the age of 40.

Tim Martin, deputy head, paid tribute to Mr Christian: “It’s no exaggeration to say that his down-to-earth, warm and approachable manner has directly shaped the ethos at The Hurst, making it the friendly and supportive school it is today.

“To his great credit, he has always won the respect of pupils, both past and present for his fairness and empathy.”

He added: “Year after year, he has worked tirelessly to ensure that every child, regardless of their background or individual needs, receives the best possible education.”

Mr Christian hopes to enjoy a slower pace of life in his retirement, taking time to relax with his family and partake in his hobbies of travelling, fishing, gardening and reading, as well as his new-found love of cycling.

Mr Martin said: “While Malcolm will be sorely missed by all, he has left The Hurst in good hands as current deputy, Roger Jones, has been appointed to take over as new headteacher from this September.”

He added: “We wish Malcolm a long, healthy and happy retirement.”