A Windsor school head teacher is set to step down from his role as head of education in the new year due to health reasons.

Simon Larter, one of the joint heads at Queensmead School Windsor, will pass on his baton as he retires from his role.

Mr Larter, a head teacher for the past 22 years, has been the head of education at the school for the past three years and has achieved a number of successes in his time, including broadening the curriculum and allowing for more modern foreign languages to be taught across the whole school, and making drama and dance a required subject for everyone, at a time when other schools have been seen to cut back on the arts.

He has been commuting to the school from his home in Devon for the past three years and wanted to leave 2019, but is being forced to step down earlier than planned due to his health.

He said: “That the school is in very good heart. I know this because so many of our parents on a regular basis tell me that their son or daughter is happy and that they are clearly able to see the progress they have made.

“Queensmead is at the threshold of some very exciting times with a fine group of staff who are determined that the school will go from strength to strength in the years ahead.”

Dawn Fleming, joint head of business affairs, commented: “It is a real shame that we will be losing Mr Larter, it has been a privilege to have worked alongside him and we all wish him well for the future.

“Queensmead School will continue to be jointly run by both heads until a suitable successor is found to replace Mr Larter, someone who will pick up the baton and take the school even further on its exciting journey.”