STALWART headteacher from a Worcestershire secondary school is retiring. 

Lindsey Cooke who has been the headteacher of Hanley Castle High School in Worcester for 12 years at the end of this month.

Mrs Cooke became the first female headteacher of the school back in 2010.

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She said: "I have been a teacher for 32 years and a head teacher for 16 years, and 12 of those have been at Hanley Castle."

"I'm retiring, I want to pass on the baton and give the school a fresh start. 

Worcester News: 2010 THROWBACK: Hanley Castle High School headteacher Lindsey Cooke, centre, with Tom Macfarlane, sixth form committee chairman, and Kat Lewis, head girl. 2010 THROWBACK: Hanley Castle High School headteacher Lindsey Cooke, centre, with Tom Macfarlane, sixth form committee chairman, and Kat Lewis, head girl.
"The school has always done well. Sometimes fresh ideas and a fresh approach is needed." 

The headteacher also said that she is proud of the way staff and pupils work together at the school. 

Mrs Cooke said: "Hanley Castle is a really happy place for everyone and the staff and pupils laugh and work together.

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"I'm proud of how our pupils returned after lockdown because that was a really scary time for everyone. 
"But the way they returned to school was wonderful." 

Mrs Cooke said she will miss the school plays put together by the staff and students once she retires. 

Just before lockdown, the school was preparing for its rendition of Made in Dagenham to take centre stage.  
The headteacher said: "The school productions have been amazing, just before lockdown the school had been working hard to put together a production of Made in Dagenham. 
"Instead of having four consecutive nights of the play, the play was on for just one night and it was a great note to end on before we went into lockdown. 

Mrs Cooke says she's looking forward to retirement and plans to travel.
She said: "I'm going to enjoy a bit of a rest, but I think I'm going to find something to keep me busy, but this is the end of my time in education. 
"I want to travel, I'm going to Wales and then Italy."