Kevin Pichowski celebrated his last day at Ruskin Junior School in Wellingborough yesterday, and began looking forward to a future of cricket, family time and voluntary work.
Mr Pichowski, 58, reflected on his time as head, and said: "I didn't int
end to be in one place for so long, it just happened. But there has always been something to do and something to strive to improve here. It took me a long while to make up my mind to retire – some days I wouldn't want to, other days I would, so I took a long time to decide, and I will miss the school and all the staff and children."
Staff praised Mr Pichowski's work over the years.
Year 5 teacher Sharon Conway said: "Once my children had to do a piece about somebody they admired, and quite a few of them, particularly the boys, chose to do it about Kevin.
"They were saying how he is always fair and always listens to both sides of any argument, and that is true with the staff as well."
Special needs co-ordinator Amanda Cole, who has also served at the school the entire time that Mr Pichowski has been head, said: "He has been a fantastic head, very supportive, and he has seen the school through some really difficult times. He will be greatly missed."
Mr Pichowski said he intended to spend time with his grandchildren, Miah, eight, and Olly, five, as well as coaching at his cricket club and volunteering as a guide at Bletchley Park Museum, near Milton Keynes where he lives.
He also said that some of the changes in teaching over the years had encouraged him to retire: "Some initiatives are good things but others you just think the politicians should stop interfering."
The full article contains 322 words and appears in Northants Evening Telegraph newspaper.
