A POPULAR headteacher was praised as “the best in the world” by her pupils as she retired after 16 years at a Wallingford school.

Frances Taylor, 58, is taking early retirement from the helm of St Nicholas C of E Infants’ School to move to the South Coast with her husband Mike, who retired last year.

During her time in charge, the school’s Ofsted rating has risen from “satisfactory” to “outstanding”.

Inspectors have praised her “inspirational leadership”.

At an assembly on Wednesday, children gave Mrs Taylor a book of photos from her time at the school.

The children also sang, dance and read stories, while a group of Mrs Taylor’s former colleagues staged a song and dance routine.

They told her she had been “the best headteacher in the world”.

Mrs Taylor said: “I have loved being head here.

“When I first came here we had such a lot of laughs in the staff room, and we have had ever since.

“We have always had fun and a lot of joy in this school, which is the main thing.

“We have shared good times and some quite hard times, but we have always looked after each other.”

Mrs Taylor said she was looking forward to cycling, travelling in her camper van and spending time with grandsons Samuel, two, and two-week-old William.

She said: “I am going to miss the school enormously, especially the friendships, the staff and the children, who just keep you going.

“There has always been a buzz about the school, and never a dull moment. I'm going to miss it all, but I’m looking forward to a new phase in my life.”

Chairman of governors Philippa Bomford said as soon as Mrs Taylor arrived in 1994, she started to make changes where they were needed.

She said: “The school has gone from being satisfactory to outstanding 15 years later, and that is all credit to Frances and the staff she took with her – and the lovely, lovely children.

“The atmosphere here has been amazing.”

Deputy head Susan Callow has been appointed acting headteacher.