NOVA Hreod School is looking for a new headteacher following Andrew Fleet's decision to call time on his career.

Mr Fleet, 59, announced his retirement to staff and pupils and will be waving goodbye to the school in August.

News of his retirement sparked rumours that the school may join with Churchfields to become a federation - a rumour Mr Fleet says is completely unfounded.

He said: "When the head of a school leaves it is in the school's best interest to assess every way of moving forward.

"Becoming a federation is one such option but not one that best suits all schools.

"This, the school governors have decided, is the case with Nova Hreod."

Instead the school has starting recruiting for the new head and hopes to start interviews in early March.

The replacement headteacher will begin at the start of the September.

Chairwoman of governors Carol Gibbon said that the school was happy with its decision to recruit another headteacher.

She said: "We have had a great deal of consultation with teachers, parents and pupils about the options open to us as a school but we feel that working to the same model we have been used to will be the best course of action.

"Becoming a federation with Churchfields certainly was an option but one that we felt wasn't suitable for us.

"We are now looking forward to new opportunities but of course Mr Fleet will be missed by the governors, staff and students and we wish him all the best."

Nova Hreod - formerly known as Hreod Parkway School - moved from its former site next door and re-launched under the new name in April last year.

Mr Fleet said: "My family and I took a decision about five years ago that I would retire in 2008, during my 60th year.

"However, the one thing I really wanted to do before then was to get the school into its new site and at get it set up and running there.

"Now that I have done that I am happy to retire and follow my other goals."

Mr Fleet has been in teaching for 37 years having spent 20 of those years in Swindon as head of Oakfield School for nine years and then Hreod Parkway and Nova Hreod for 11 years.

After his retirement in six months' time Mr Fleet plans to take on work as a consultant as well as devote more time to his other passion - preaching for the Methodist Church.

He said: "It's been a huge privilege to work with so many talented people and to create new opportunities for young people over my years of service but I have another six months at Nova Hreod and I intend to make the most of that time.

"I certainly wish the next head the very best of luck with future ventures and the pupils the very best for their futures."