A HEREFORD headteacher is set to retire at the end of this school year after spending a lifetime in education.

When Denise Strutt, 57, joined Whitecross in 2001 it was in need of a principal who could make significant changes as pupils settled into life in their new home in Three Elms.

And, 14 years later, she will leave having overseen the school’s successful move to the new site and welcomed Ofsted’s “good” grading in their 2013 inspection.

But despite those successes, Ms Strutt’s career highlights are a little more personal.

“As a head, it’s a fabulous opportunity to be involved in a new building and the new structures that come with that,” she said.

“But my highlight is also about individual appointments. When I look around the staff here there are so many of them that, not only have I appointed as new staff, but came here as newly qualified teachers and have now become heads of departments, subject leaders and learning managers.

“A lot have had their whole career with us. That makes me more proud than getting a new building. That and the students’ achievements. It’s things like seeing dance performances or music performances and students standing up and making a speech that will stay with me.”

Formerly based on Baggallay Street, Whitecross High School moved to a new, multi-million building off Three Elms Road in June 2006.

Ms Strutt, who is originally from Newcastle but now lives in Ross– on–Wye, said she plans to take the gap year she never had when she leaves in July, having started teaching at 21.

She also hopes to undertake some charity work.

“Technically I’m retiring but I don’t feel old enough,” she said. “I have absolutely loved it at Whitecross.

Being a head is the greatest thing in the world.

“Someone said ‘you have really enjoyed it, are you doing something else?’. I said I’m doing the best job in the world.”