THURROCK “super-head” John King will be retiring next year after a very successful 20 years heading up secondary schools in the borough.

Mr King OBE has been headteacher at Gable Hall School in Southend Road, Corringham since 1993 and in 2006 he was asked to take over William Edwards School, in Stifford Clays Road, Grays in 2006 after its headteacher resigned.

The headteacher, who will be retiring at Easter, hit the national headlines this year when it was revealed he earnt £177,872 last year, making him one of the 17 top earning headteachers in the country.

Mr King, 60, from Billericay explained to the Gazette his passion for young people in Thurrock and said even though he was leaving as a headteacher he still wanted to be heavily involved in the education of youngsters.

He said: “I have spent 20 years working with Thurrock families, children and colleagues, I am really going to miss to the daily contact I have with all of them.

“I would be really happy to continue the children of Thurrock and I really believe with the right teaching and guidance, our children can go so far. I am so passionate about the kids in this borough.

“I honestly really believe our kids have the potential to be the best in the country when given the right opportunities, I have no doubt.”

Mr King, who is married and has a grown up son and daughter, said he would not be having a quiet retirement.

He said: “For a long time I have been working with the Department for Education on an advisory panel and I will be doing more of that.

“I also lead headteacher leadership camps and I went to China recently to do one of those, it is something I can pass the skills on which I have gained from working in Thurrock for so long.”

The new headteacher for Gable Hall School will be Sophina Asong, who is currently an acting headteacher in Newham and Steve Munday, the deputy headteacher at William Edwards will take over from Easter.