The first and only head of Rickstones School in Witham has announced her retirement.

Norma Turner will be leaving the Conrad Road school after 23 years in charge.

Mrs Turner was the first member of staff recruited to Rickstones before it opened in 1977 and she had the job of recruiting all the teachers and setting up the school from scratch.

During her time at the school, Mrs Turner helped to win Schools Curriculum and Sportsmark awards.

She was also recently the driving force behind a bid for arts technology status.

The latest Ofsted report in December described her leadership as outstanding.

Mrs Turner, who will be leaving at the end of August, was today expected to announce her retirement to pupils during assembly.

She said: "This job has been my life for 23 years. Leaving the school will be like cutting off a limb.

"I will miss the school and the parents enormously and I hope to maintain close contact after my retirement."

Chairman of governors Phil Barlow said: "This is the end of an era for Rickstones and a unique occasion for the school.

"Norma has been the only head of Rickstones and has exercised quite outstanding leadership in all her years. She was responsible for establishing the ethos of the school and its achievements are inevitably a reflection of her personality and character."

Mrs Turner's announcement came just hours after the school unveiled plans to expand its sixth form because of an overwhelming demand from new pupils.

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