A HEADTEACHER who has spent nearly 40 years in the profession is to retire for the second time - although not before taking on one last headship.

With a plan to stay for six months, Brendan Conboy came out of retirement to take over Thomas Whitham Sixth Form after a deal to enter into a partnership with Burnley College collapsed.

That was nearly two years ago and with the sixth form in a good position he is now handing over to assistant head Zoe Emmett.

Mr Conboy’s 37 year career includes headships at Ss John Fisher and Thomas More RC High School in Colne and eight years spent running Our Lady’s Catholic College in Lancaster. He also stepped in to help at Hameldon Community College for four months earlier this year.

Before he packs his school bag for good he will spend a term at Sir John Thursby Community College while they appoint a new headteacher following David Burton’s move to Bolton’s Canon Slade School.

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Reflecting on his career, 15 years of which was spent as a headteacher, Mr Conboy said he has thoroughly enjoyed his time at Thomas Whitham with one of one of his stand out moments being when it was rated ‘good’ by Ofsted within six months of his arrival.

"After the Burnley College deal collapsed, there was some uncertainty amongst staff which settled down when they saw they were bringing in an experienced head, he said.

“The first thing was recognising the talent that was there then reassuring people. We had fantastic staff but I think they had lost confidence and direction. It was making sure people recognised their strengths and were pulling in the same direction. We had that team ethos.

“We had an Ofsted visit due and the judgement was made within half a day.

“I took as much pride in that as any of my previous Ofsted results.

“To get that result was a massive turnaround moment. To get that recognition made a huge difference.”

Mr Conboy described the students as ‘wonderful’.

“To see them go from quite nervous, unsure youngsters to doing great degrees is a fabulous plus,” he said.

“They can be incredibly resilient. They will get over some massive barriers and to see them stomping out into the world is a great feeling.”

Some of the biggest changes the former chairman of the Lancashire Headteacher’s Association has seen over the years are the accountability measures.

“You get a lot of public money so it is important but it can be frustrating when the accountability constantly changes,” he said.

“We must be the only country in the world to worry when exam results go up. It is about the kids working hard and the staff working hard.

“Every government has five years. You can’t really change the health service, trade and industry but you can change education. They put that at the forefront because it is something they can affect. There never seems to be a long-term education policy.

“They should tell us what they want us to do then leave us alone to get on with it.”

He said there is a lot of good work going on in schools that is harder to measure.

“I have seen up and down the county schools doing fantastic work in quite difficult circumstances yet they feel insecure because the year nine maths is not quite there. The work schools are doing is not always recognised and that is frustrating.”

Looking ahead at the challenges facing teaching he cited funding and narrowing the gap in terms of social mobility.

“I grew up in a poor home in Accrington and it was education that brought me to where I am at now,” he said.

“We have got to use education to narrow gaps in society. It really makes a difference to enrich communities and we should be making sure no-one gets left behind.”

He said schools must also take seriously their responsibility to build communities and encourage social cohesion.

“Schools are a great place to challenge views and say ‘you are better together’. We can help people see that diversity is a strength.

“Schools are engines of social cohesion and must do all they can to work with the community and make sure the good work that goes on in schools transfers out into the community.”

He said a good college is ambitious for its students and wants the best for them.

“It is about fantastic teaching and great results so they can have their ambitions fulfilled. I think that is really important especially in an area like East Lancashire.

“Good colleges walk with students. You grow people. You send them out with great exam results but you also send great people out into their towns. It is supporting them and making them feel valued.”

A father-of-three, Mr Conboy is planning to spend plenty of time with his family, including his first grandchild, while fitting in some sports tours such as the rugby one he recently took to New Zealand to support the British Lions - and happened to share a pint with a former student he bumped into over there.

“It is a fantastic job and I have been blessed to do it. Yes there are days when you think ‘why am I doing this?’ but then there are a thousand days where you think ‘I would not be anywhere else’,” he said.