AN inspirational headteacher said an emotional goodbye to staff and students on his last day at a Walton school.

Top head Benedick Ashmore-Short helped inspire a major turnaround and bring Hamford Primary Academy out of special measures after taking over in 2012.

In its latest Ofsted inspection the school was graded ‘good with outstanding features’.

But now Mr Ashmore-Short has left for a new job as director of primary for a new academy chain.

On his last day on Friday he said: “It’s really emotional. You invest a lot of time in a school and it becomes part of your extended family.

“It has been an incredible journey and rather than being sad I want to celebrate everything we have achieved together at Hamford.

“I want to say thank you to everyone for the huge support that we have had from the community and I hope that continues.”

He has spent the last six weeks working with his replacement Ryan Kendall, who will start as headteacher after half term.

Mr Ashmore-Short added: “Mr Kendall has been working within the school for the last three years and has been a big part of developing our vision.

“It has been good to have some time to spend with him and help form a plan for the next couple of years.

“There will be a real continuity of our ethos and I know I am leaving Hamford in really good hands.”