PHILIP Herriman is retiring as head of Okehampton Community College at Christmas after 17 years.

The college principal said like every organisation or house, occasionally it needed a new owner and it was a good time to go following a successful Ofsted report.

Mr Herriman's career in education, however, will not be ending because he will be working for the Department of Education looking into teachers pay and performance.

He said he had enjoyed his job and would miss it a lot.

'It has been a pleasant environment to work in and the people are very friendly,' said the 60-year-old head. 'The staff here are brilliant and I would like to thank them and the governors for all their support over the years.

'I am still very enthusiastic about education and after seeing the college through two Ofsted reports I think it is nice to go on to something else and use the experience I have.'

The head said the school numbers had increased by about 150 pupils since he had been there but with all the new housing development planned the school's population was set to grow from 1,226 to 1,600 in a few years.

'The college is expanding and more new building is in the pipeline,' he said. 'I will be leaving it in a position of strength and I wish my successor the very best of luck.'

To see the young people successful in what they were doing on their return visits to the college was always a great reward, said Mr Herriman.

'I started out in a prep school and came into the state system because I do not feel it necessary that people should have to pay twice for education — once in raising taxes and once privately — state schools should be able to provide what children need,' he added.

'Education has given me the key to opportunities for future careers — there is nothing better than having people diffident about education and achieving magnificent success.

'They do not have to become brain surgeons — if we can teach them to read or write or socialise properly that is success.'

The headteacher's motto is that everyone can win the race and everyone gets a prize and it is all about 'enthusiasm and motivation' and ensuring children reached their full potential.

'The nice thing is that children who go on from here are capable of competing county-wide and nationally with other people in all types of fields,' he said.

Mr Herriman wishes there was more money in education but despite financial pressures staff at Okehampton College had 'worked like the clappers' to provide a full range of activities just as they had always done.

One of the things that has given Mr Herriman a sense of achievement was the Ofsted inspectors' comments that the school was friendly and hardworking, there was a good relationship between the staff and pupils and the school had good links the community.

'I think a mark of achievement for this place is that children from outside the catchment area are coming here,' he said.

Chairman of the school governors John Domaille, who is also bowing out at Christmas to allow for 'a fresh approach' said the head had done a 'terrific job'.

'Mr Herriman will be an extremely hard act to follow,' he said.

'This is probably the biggest job in Okehampton and the qualities required of a new principal will be immense.'

The process of appointing a new head will begin in earnest in July.