THE head teacher of a Valleys secondary school retired yesterday, after 21 years in the job.

Clive Boulter, head of Brynmawr Foundation School, said he has been overwhelmed with cards, presents and goodwill messages from pupils and their parents.

Mr Boulter, originally from Pontllanfraith and now living in Gilwern, has seen the school through many changes - most notably taking on grant-maintained status in 1992.

"The school was threatened with closure, but grant-maintained status was available and we were determined the school should stay open," he says.

"At the time there were 475 pupils and 32 members of staff. The numbers have almost doubled since then, with 875 children and 52 staff - and there will probably be closer to 900 in September."

Mr Boulter is also pleased that the sixth form has grown and will have its highest number of pupils ever next year.

"We concentrated on being a quality school in terms of academic provision, whether it was a pupil leaving with three As at A-level or improving their reading and writing skills," he said.

"We are very strong on behaviour and on making it a caring atmosphere - and we have a strong uniform policy as well, and parents wanted to buy into that.

"We have been over-subscribed for the past five or six years." Mr Boulter, 61, who has been teaching for 40 years, says he is delighted to leave the school while it is in such a strong position but says it will have to embrace change in the future.

And he is disappointed that he could not persuade parents and governors earlier this year that merging with Nantyglo Comprehensive would have been the right move for the school.

More than 600 parents attended one meeting to protest against the move, proposed by Blaenau Gwent council.

Mr Boulter says he intends to spend his retirement playing more golf and spending time with his wife, who is also retiring, but hasn't ruled out continuing in some role in education.

"I have really enjoyed my 40 years in teaching - it has been the best job in the world. I have loved it and I will miss it," he said.

The acting head next term will be present deputy head Keith Roden. A new head is due to be appointed by January.