PUPILS at Withymoor Primary School in Brierley Hill this week gave their retiring headteacher a send off to remember.

Youngsters joined together to perform an entire school flashmob for popular headteacher Gill Harper who retired on Tuesday July 25 after a 37-year teaching career.

Children across all year groups had been secretly learning their dance moves for the last few weeks - foundation stage leader Rebecca Fellows said.

She said the flashmob was the brainchild of creative arts co-ordinator Kirsty Owen and added: "It's been quite tricky trying to practise without her knowing. We've had to quickly turn the music off when she's been anywhere near the corridor."

Pupils reportedly left Mrs Harper, who has been headteacher at Withymoor for ten years, "very emotional" after surprising her in the playground with a performance set to the Mark Ronson pop song Uptown Funk followed by a routine to Sound of Music number So Long, Farewell.

Stourbridge News:

Miss Fellows said: "She's been an incredible headteacher. She's been really inspiring and has always had the children at the centre of everything she's done. The school has been very close to her heart."

Mrs Harper hopes to spend more time travelling and with her family in her retirement years.

She said: "It was a big decision to leave Withymoor but with the arrival of my first grandchild it was the right time for me to retire.

"I will miss the children and the staff, alongside whom I've worked, very much - and I wish them all every success in the future.

And she added: "I'd also like to thank the governors for their invaluable support during the ten years I've been privileged to lead this wonderful school."

Alison Wootton from Woodside Primary School in Dudley is set to take over as headteacher at Withymoor from September.