A FORMER soldier is settling into his new role as headteacher of Castlebrook High School in Unsworth.

And one of Mr Tony Roberts' first jobs was to preside over the school's presentation of certificates to former pupils who left in the summer. Guest speaker was former pupil Dr Matthew Titterton who works in the accident and emergency unit at Hope Hospital in Salford.

In his speech, 50-year-old Mr Roberts paid tribute to the hard work of the pupils, allied to the endeavours of staff and parents. He said staff had gone the "extra mile" in ensuring pupils' coursework was in on time and thanked parents for providing "care and understanding when times were difficult".

Mr Roberts continued: "The importance of the partnership between home and school cannot be overstated and when pupils, parents and staff work together the results can be outstanding.

"Thus, I am very pleased to announce that this year 56.6 per cent of the students entered for GCSEs, that is 107 out of 189, gained five or more higher grades.

"This placed us in the top 25 per cent of schools in the country. As far as I am aware, this is a school record and is testimony to all the hard work of all involved."

In his address, Mr Roberts highlighted several praiseworthy comments made by Ofsted inspectors following a recent visit to the school, now a specialist science and technology college.

Looking ahead, the headteacher said the school would move into a new phase of development with the completion of its £260,000 construction centre in November to deliver skills and training in construction, sponsored by international engineering and construction group Costain. And he told the former pupils: "In a similar manner, your future is exciting as you embark in employment, training or further education. I would hope that you have the aspirations, desire and wherewithal to live the dream' and I wish you every success in the future."

Mr Roberts, who served as a corporal in the Queen's Own Highlanders between 1975 and 1981, took over at Castlebrook last month following the retirement of Mr John Gannon.

The new headteacher, who saw action in Northern Ireland during the height of the Ulster troubles, worked in a Manchester music shop after leaving the Army. He then trained as a teacher at Manchester University where he graduated in 1986. Subsequently, he spent 16 years at a school in North Chadderton, initially entering as a probationary teacher and working his way up to assistant headteacher. Before moving to Castlebrook, he was deputy head at the Plant Hill Art College, Blackley, for four years.

Commenting on his new role, Mr Roberts, who lives in Oldham and is married with three daughters and a son, said: "These are exciting times to be moving the school forward. Days after I took up my post, Ofsted came in, so it was a bit of a baptism by fire."

He is in charge of 900 pupils and 100 staff at Castlebrook.