Headteacher at centre of shooting controversy to retire

Adrian Richards left his post at St Peter's Collegiate School in Wolverhampton yesterday, taking a leave of absence for the rest of the school year.

The school has confirmed he will officially retire at the end of August.

A school statement to pupils and parents, given jointly by chair of governors Sue Boden and director of education for the diocese of Lichfield, Colin Hopkins, confirmed that Mr Richards had left.

It said: "We wish to inform you that Mr Adrian Richards has decided to retire as principal of St Peter's Collegiate School with effect from August 31.

"Mr Richards is currently on leave of absence until the end of term.

"Mr Richards is retiring from a long and distinguished career as a member of staff at St Peter's Collegiate School."

News of Mr Richards retirement was announced on the school's website yesterday and one parent said the news had come as a shock to pupils.

In February a science teacher at the school, Richard West, was sacked after a science experiment went wrong. The experiment involved shooting through paper into cardboard boxes on the other side of the room, to work out the speed of the bullet and its deceleration.

But the pellet was believed to have ricocheted off a table and struck 17-year-old Ben Barlow in the leg, leaving him with a scratch.

Pupils horrified by Mr West's dismissal launched a Facebook campaign called 'Bring Back Westy' which attracted 4,500 members and the pupil involved was among those to call for him to be reinstated.

Education secretary Michael Gove even defended Mr West saying 'the best science involves practicals' and following an appeal the teacher was reinstated in March.

He later resigned from his position.