A PRINCIPAL who helped a school achieve their best ever GCSE results is to retire at the end of this year.

Pat Howarth is stepping down from his post at Hummersknott Academy in December after ten years in the role.

Since joining in 2003, he has overseen a number of changes to the school, including a major £14.5m refurbishment in 2006 and its transformation into an academy in July 2011.

Under his leadership, GCSE results at the school over the past two years have been the best ever achieved at the school.

Mr Howarth said: “I have always planned to retire at this time. It has been, and remains, an incredible privilege to lead Hummersknott.

“I would like to thank parents, students and staff for all their support and hard work in all we have achieved together.”

Geraint Edwards, chairman of Hummersknott Academy Trust, said: “It was with sadness on Monday this week that the board of directors of Hummersknott Academy Trust accepted Pat’s intimation to retire in December, having worked tirelessly here for ten years.

“He will be sorely missed, not only by the staff and students at Hummersknott, but by the wider education community of Darlington and the North-East.”

Work will start immediately to recruit a new principal.