The head of a Sheerness primary school is retiring after seven years in charge at a previously failing school.

When Julie Holmes arrived at Rose Street, in Sheerness, it was on the verge of being closed by Kent County Council because of falling standards and a drop in pupil numbers.

Things turned around and it has been named a National Support School, meaning staff will provide help to struggling schools across the country. It follows a “good” rating in its last Ofsted report from December.

Mrs Holmes said: “With a brilliant team behind me we have spent the last seven years to get what these children deserve.

“It has been a very interesting seven years and I shall miss the people, children, staff and parents. I won’t miss the paperwork.”

The Minster resident is taking early retirement at the age of 54 and plans to spend time travelling around the world.

Jim Duncan, chairman of governors of the Sheerness West Federation, which includes West Minster and Rose Street, said: “I am really sad to see Julie leaving Rose Street Primary.

“She has been absolutely fantastic for the school. She has achieved and enormous amount. She very much deserves her retirement.

“[The school] was in need of improvement at the time [she started] and Julie made a really big difference and brought the school up to where it is now.”

Assistant head teacher Rene Chetty-Marston has been shadowing the head of school role and will take over in September.