David Fawbert is to retire as headteacher at The Chase next summer.

Mr Fawbert, has been the driving forced behind Worcestershire's largest secondary school for the past 16 years.

He announced his retirement at the Malvern school's annual presentation of prizes last Friday.

"I've decided to move on and do something different," he said. "I prefer to go now when people might be just a teeny bit sorry about it rather than later when they might rather wish I had done it earlier.

"I shall, however, miss both the job and the people who come here each day."

Mr Fawbert has seen the school increase in size by 25 per cent over the past ten years, but not at the expense of academic achievement.

The Chase consistently finishes near the top of the table in GCSE and A'Level performance tables and has twice appeared on the Chief Inspector's list of outstanding schools. It was given Technology College status in 1999, which opening the door to significant investment in new facilities, and was one of only 61 schools throughout the country to achieve the Government's Sportsmark Gold Award.

Mr Fawbert said: "I'm one of those very privileged people whose jobs has also been a happy and I've enjoyed rolling up my sleeves and becoming 100 per cent involved in practically everything.

"All in all, 16 years at The Chase have provided me a fantastically fulfilling professional experience and I would do it all again."

Mr Fawbert said 2001 had been another remarkable year for the school, with achievements including the opening of the "Astro" sports field and an exhibition from the latest Chase international, hockey player Laura McFarlane.

Work begun last summer on a new high-tech development to enable teaching of pneumatics, electronics, robotics and computer applications. The school also received a gold award for its arts activities under the Artsmark scheme, the new national chartermark for the arts.

Mr Fawbert said the school's dramatic efforts more than lived up to their usual promise with students producing something "unforgettable" in My Fair Lady. The school's symphony orchestra and Chase Brass Band continued to thrive, while seven sixth formers achieved a minimum of four A grades at A'Level and 14 were awarded 10 or more A grades at GCSE.

While admitting his regret at reaching the end of his time as headteacher, Mr Fawbert also tipped his hat in thanks to retiring teaching assistant, Mrs Jane Cutler, heads of department Janet Jones, Mike Rawlings and Ann Rawlings, work experience co-ordinator Kim Rowswell, and technical teacher Gwyn Powell, who retired after 30 years at the school.