THE headteacher of Nailsea School is resigning after eight years at the helm.

David New has greatly improved the school since he started in 2004 and has overseen the development of the new �32million building as well as its conversion to an academy in August.

Mr New said: “I’ve enjoyed it immensely at Nailsea. This will be my ninth year and I decided I wanted to do something different before I’m too old.

“I’m going to be doing some Ofsted inspecting and consultancy. I want to share my experience with other schools and headteachers.

“I would like to thank the governors for all the support they’ve given me and the local authority for giving me the opportunity to be involved in Building Schools for the Future programme.

“Nailsea School has gone from strength to strength since I arrived and I wish the school and its pupils every success in the future.”

Mr New will leave on August 31 next year and the governors hope to have chosen his replacement by Easter.

Cllr Jeremy Blatchford, North Somerset Council’s executive member for children and young people, described Mr New’s work as ‘utterly outstanding’. He said: “I will be sad to see David leave, it will be difficult to replace him, but I hope he’s going on to greater things elsewhere.”