A HEAD teacher in Blandford has said a fond farell to pupils, teachers and parents.

Richard Chapman called time on eight years at the helm of Archbishop Wake School at the end of the summer term.

Mr Chapman has led the school through a series of changes, including a change from a three-tier educational structure in the district to a primary and secondary school system.

Moving the school to a new building on Black Lane has been among the achievements of which he was proudest, he said.

An exhibition of pupils’ paintings at the National Gallery in 2006, and an outstanding OFSTED report in 2007, were other highlights of his time at the school, he added.

Mr Chapman will take the reigns at a school in Wiltshire in September.

Alan Frame, head of Downlands Community School at Blandford Garrison, will be interim head, with governors hoping to finalise a permanent appointment by January.