A retired headteacher has written his fifth book about the history of King's Lynn's schools.

Michael Walker's latest work describes the Gaywood Park Boys' and Girls' Schools from their opening at the beginning of the Second World War to 1979 when the, by then, mixed school on Queen Mary Road became a comprehensive.

In 1997 it became the Park High School, which became an academy in 2010.

The two single-sex schools were merged in 1972 under the headship of Tom Shephard and by 1976 it was the biggest secondary school in the country.

The boys' school had five headteachers up to the amalgamation but the girls' school only two, Miss Kate Sherman and Miss Diana Bullock. The book includes details of numbers on roll, the curriculum and organisation, examination results, HMI Reports and extracurricular activities.

The schools' success in a wide range of sports is also highlighted. The factual account is enlivened by amusing reminiscences of former pupils and staff from each era.

The book, which has over a hundred photographs including some whole-school panoramas, is available from Waterstones in King's Lynn.

Michael Walker was Head of King Edward Vll School from 1990 to 2002.

His previous books have been on the Lynn Grammar School, King Edward Vll School, the West Norfolk and King's Lynn High School for Girls and the Alderman Catleugh Schools.