A "devoted and committed" headteacher of a primary school in Cornwall will be retiring at the end of August after 16 years. 

Mark French, 58, who lives in Helston and has been the headteacher of Flushing Church of England Primary School since 2006, will be retiring from his position at the end of August this year.

Mark started teaching when he was 22 years old and has spent the last 36 years in education, first becoming a headteacher at the age of 32.

Falmouth Packet: Mark French, Flushing primary School headteacher will be retiring in AugustMark French, Flushing primary School headteacher will be retiring in August

Prior to working in Cornwall, Mark was based in Dent in Cumbria and has also worked in Farthinghoe, near Brackley.

Special Educational Needs Coordinator, Helen Murrells, said: "Mark started at Flushing in 2006, but has had three headships.

"He's been a head since he was 32.

"He's kind of done the long-term head thing.

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"They're going camping on the Isle of Wight which is were Mark group up himself as a child, and it's something that he's previously done a long time ago and is revisiting, so it's a nice kind of full circle thing.

"So, that'll be good fun.

"Because of Covid, very few schools went anywhere, but we had a previously postponed London trip which was then postponed again and it was literally through determination and hard work from Mark that they got to London last year and were one of the few schools that did, so that was great as well.

Falmouth Packet: Mark joined Flushing Primary School in 2006Mark joined Flushing Primary School in 2006

"There was no way he was going to let the kids miss out again."

Staff at the school have described Mark as "devoted and committed" with one teacher saying: "Mark has always gone above and beyond to ensure Flushing School is a special place to be.

"He has been a devoted and committed headteacher and will be dearly missed."

There will be a garden party taking place at Flushing Bowling Green on Saturday, June 16 and will also be having a families event on Friday, June 22 where the kids of Flushing School will be putting on a show for Mark.

Mark will officially leave the school on August 31, with his last teaching day taking place on July 22 due to the summer holidays.