IT'S been week of emotional highs and lows for Castle School head teacher Adrian Verwoert who retires today after 24 years at the school, the last 16 in the hot seat.

"You don't leave a school like this without going through the whole gamut of emotions," said Adrian, 57, who is leaving the award winning 1700-pupil comprehensive a few years early for health reasons.

"Headship of a school like the Castle isn't really compatible with a health condition such as mine and I know it makes sense to go. But that doesn't make it any easier.

"The school has been a vital part of my life for a long time and to say I shall miss it is an understatement. More than anything I shall miss the children and all the teaching and support staff. The school is very lucky to have such a terrifically dedicated team."

"The school has come a long way since I joined as deputy head in 1980. A lot has been achieved. But none of it would have been possible without the support of staff and governors." Official goodbyes began a week ago with a major event attended by governors staff past and present and by South Gloucestershire education director Therese Gillespie.

"It was wonderful to see so many of my old colleagues from the past," said Adrian "There were lots of speeches and presentations including a lovely digital camera given to me by the Castle School Association.

"It hasn't really stopped since them and I been saying my farewells to the children at their year group assemblies. It has certainly been a moving time."

Adrian will be entering retirement in the company of his wife Beverley who is also stepping down as assistant head at Bristol's Lockleaze School which is closing.

"As for the future, I can't say I don't intend ever working again but it will be a few days here and there doing consultancy. I'v been told that I must slow down for the sake of my health. It's as simple as that.

"I used to do a lot of sports but sadly trouble with my shoulder has rather put paid to that. Travel has also been a passion but even that has been made difficult because of medical treatment."

In his younger days, Adrian was indeed a very keen sportsman, representing his home county of Norfolk in football cricket and cross country and athletics at schoolboy level and was also part of the England Schoolboys training squads.

After starting his teaching career in South East London, Adrian first came to the Bristol area in 1974, joining Withywood School before moving to the Castle in 1980.

"I took over as acting head in 1985 but it was another three years before I was appointed head in a permanent capacity," he said. "There was quite a controversy at the time because in those days there was a policy that deputies should take over as head at the same school.

"But I had tremendous support from the school and having chosen me the governors refused to budge. Eventually the Secretary of State for Education intervened and to everyone's relief I was given the permanent headship."

When Adrian says the school has come a long way, he is far from overstating the case. In 1985 only around 35 percent of students achieved the equivalent of five GCSE A*-C grades. Now the figures are approaching 75 percent. The sixth form had below 100 students - now there are well over 300.

All the tables show Castle to be one of the must successful and effective state schools in the entire country. Not surprisingly, its popularity has rocketed and demand for places outstrips supply by almost 100 percent.

Said Adrian: "When I took over as head I had a budget of £30,000 and financial management for books and equipment only. All staffing, repair and maintenance were under the control of the education authority. Today, the budget is more than £6million and the head has financial control over all aspects of the school, employing almost 200 staff."

As well as building an excellent reputation for exam results, recent years have seen the school achieve Investor in People status on three occasions and a Basic Skills Quality Mark. Following on from Beacon School status, it became the first Leading Edge partnership school in the area and last year achieved specialist Visual Arts status. Ofsted reports have been outstanding.

"It's a pity the long awaited all-weather pitch hasn't been completed during my time," said Adrian. "But numerous additions to the facilities have been made including the sports hall the new art gallery."

Adrian, who was awarded a CBE in May this year, will be succeeded in September by Melanie Warnes, recently head of Woodrush Community High School, a Specialist Technology College in Worcestershire.

"My wish for the future is that that, whatever the challenges, the school continues to build on the platform we have created and carries on going from strength to strength," he said. "I'm confident that in Melanie Warnes the governors have appointed someone who will ensure that happens."