It's the end of an era at The Chase in Malvern today (Friday) with the retirement of headteacher David Fawbert after 16 years.

Mr Fawbert joined the school in 1986 from Evesham High School, where he was deputy head. In that time, he has seen the number of pupils at The Chase increase by 25 per cent and the school win a host of awards.

The school is now a technology college and holds Beacon status as well as Artsmark Gold and Sportsmark Gold, acknowledging its excellence in almost all areas.

"I came into a school that was really down at heel," said Mr Fawbert. "It's changed immensely. In the first days it was a question of getting people involved in things like the brass band and refurbishing the foyer. If you look around now it's a totally different place from the one I inherited."

Mr Fawbert said he was very proud of what the school had achieved.

He explained: "To have got the astroturf facility has been a great achievement and to have raised £100,000 from the local community to seek technology college status was a great, great achievement. For a school that has a sixth form that appears in the top echelons in the country is a huge achievement."

Mr Fawbert has taught around 33,440 lessons, 10,000 youngsters and taken 2,500 assemblies over his career. He now hopes to devote more time to walking, singing and lowering his golf handicap.

"I'll find some other things to do," he said.

The new headteacher is Kevin Pack, the current head of North Bromsgrove High School.