A SUPER head will "leave a bit of her heart behind" when she quits a Netherton School she transformed during her six years in charge.

Dame Mo Brennan leaves Hillcrest School in Easter to go to troubled Barr Beacon School in Walsall, hoping history will repeat itself.

She joined the struggling Hillcrest School in September 2000 when it was in "special measures".

Since then the number of students gaining five or more GCSE A* to C grades has more than doubled under her traditional, no nonsense approach to teaching.

The current pass level is 48 per cent and the number of students has risen from 640 to 900.

Modest Mo received her prestigious title in the June 2005 Queen's Birthday Honours List in recognition of her work at the school.

She said: "I need a new challenge but it will break my heart to go. I will leave a bit of my heart here. It's very, very sad.

"The staff are fantastic and the children's behaviour is superb.This is a happy school, everyone has a lot of fun here.

"It runs itself now. I wanted to go when Hillcrest was sorted and I feel it is now."

The school bell on her Hillcrest career will ring for the final time on Friday March 30.

John Freeman, Dudley Council's director for children's services, said: "Dame Mo Brennan, with tremendous support from her staff, has transformed Hillcrest School and Community College.

"During her time there she has made a real difference to the young people, teaching staff, as well as the local community. The school has achieved specialist status and grown in popularity."

Share your thoughts on Mo Brennan and her impact on Hillcrest. Email mark.stanford@midlands.newsquest.co.uk