IT WAS the end of term and the end of an era at Charfield Primary School as staff and pupils said goodbye to their headteacher.

Stefan Frontczak, headteacher at the school for the last seven years, left the village for new challenges in West Yorkshire.

Since he started at the school in September 2000 Mr Frontczak has seen the school turn its fortunes around with several successful Ofsted reports as well as improvements to the school building.

Mr Frontczak said: "I would just like to thank everybody for sending such lovely cards and presents and best wishes.

"I have seen the school change an awful lot. When I came in 2000 the school building left a lot to be desired. So with a lot of hard work and campaigning, we got the building work sorted.

"All the staff, including teachers, teaching assistants, office staff, dinner ladies, cooks, the caretaker and the cleaners have been a pleasure to work with.

"Charfield Primary really is a friendly school and has a deep seated presence in the community. Charfield is a lovely place and the school is right at the centre of that."

Today, the last day of term , the children hosted a special school assembly to say goodbye to Mr Frontczak.

He said: "It's the kids I really will miss. I will be really upset to leave all the children behind.

"Lots of them have written in cards that they don't want me to leave. It really does press on your heart a lot because they are all just lovely kids."

Debbie Riddle, a school governor, praised Mr Frontczak's work. She said: "He has done so much for the school. He helped sort all the expansion the building has gone through.

"Since Mr Frontczak has been here we have had quite a few successful Ofsted reports. It is going to be sad to see him go."

Deputy headteacher Vicky Gordon will stand in as acting headteacher until April when new headteacher Dafyd Lawday starts.