A HEADTEACHER appointed to turn a Worcester school around has announced his retirement.

Dr Graham Watts will leave Elgar Technology College at Christmas.

He will be succeeded by Tony James, the deputy head at a Buckinghamshire school.

Dr Watts's decision to retire comes after the school achieved technology status, secured new building work and improved GCSE results.

"I shall be very sad to leave because it's become part of my life," said Dr Watts, who is 54.

"It's a school that you can become incredibly attached to, more so because of the progress we've made over the years.

"It's wrong to consider the headteacher is the only important element of a school. This is a team effort."

Dr Watts will be moving to Devon, where his wife has been offered a post in the healthcare field.

"It's appropriate that I allow her to pursue her career. We will move to Devon and I shall continue to work in education," he said.

"I doubt it will be a headship. I'd like to go back to the classroom."

Dr Watts was appointed to the Bilford Road school in January, 1997, at a turbulent point in the school's history.

Mr James, aged 39, who starts at the school in January, is confident that he can continue raising standards there.

"It's an exciting challenge. There are certain characteristics of the school that attracted me to it,'' he said.

"The position it's in regarding specialist status gives it a very solid foundation.

"It means it's an excellent opportunity to build on that and take it to further success.

"I'd like to see the profile of the school in the community raised and people to see this as a place of opportunity."

Mr James, married to a primary school teacher has two young sons.