THE headteacher of Arrow Vale Community High School is leaving at the end of this term after four years at the helm.

Chris Leech will be leaving for a bigger school in a different county and a new head for the Matchborough school is expected to start in January.

Chair of governors Wendy Johnson said Mr Leech had been a splendid headteacher.

"You only have to look at the performance indicators since he arrived and he has vastly improved attendance figures," she said.

Deputy headteacher Peter Howitt will be acting headteacher until January.

"We are fully confident the school will go forward as we have a really good acting head," added Mrs Johnson.