A Suffolk headteacher is retiring this summer – after a 36-year teaching career.

Andrew Bloom, who is headteacher of Stradbroke High School, said the school was in a positive place and he saw no reason why that could not continue in his absence.

Mr Bloom, 58, was formerly head of sixth form at Stowmarket High School for eight years and headteacher at Debenham High School for eight years.

Mr Bloom, who will also retire as executive head of Worlingworth Primary School, said: “I have really enjoyed it, but there comes a time when you think its time to move on – maybe have a bit of a rest. I have children in places like Singapore so I’m looking forward to a bit of travel.”

Mr Bloom praised the ethos of the school, which has just under 300 pupils.

“All you want for kids is the best, you want pupils to do the best they can,” he said.

“We tried to keep class sizes as small as we could. Not only do you get to know the pupils, you also get to know the parents – we’ve got incredibly supportive parents and we’ve built up an incredibly strong set of staff.

“I don’t think exams are everything. You need those things where children are challenged differently. Our production of Joseph has a fifth of the school involved. We have sports teams, arts. They are important because it’s a way of reaching out. You need something to latch onto.

“What we want is kids that are happy, because when they are they want to learn. We’re in the top 100 schools in the country (non-selective, state-funded secondary schools based on the key stage two to key stage four value-added measure) – something pupils, parents and the wider community can be proud of.”