A KENT headmaster thought to be the first in the country to introduce random drug-testing in a state school is to retire.

Peter Walker says he is delighted to be leaving the Abbey School at Faversham at a time it is celebrating its best-ever GCSE results and in the middle of a building programme. He has been in the post 19 years.

Mr Walker, a Yorkshireman, has turned the school around during the past two decades and is best known for pioneering the random drug-testing at the school. Glasgow University is using its data for research into drugs education.

This year 40 per cent of pupils achieved five A to C grades at GCSE, compared with 32 per cent last year.

Mr Walker, who plans to leave at the end of the spring term, said: “It’s good to be going out on a high note.

"I am not yet 60, so I hope to be able to enjoy other things. Building work is about to start on a new sports hall at the school and a vocational centre and business units will go up next year."