THE head teacher of a controversial Bournemouth free school has said it will definitely be relocating to its new site at Hurn Airport this September.

But Parkfield principal Terry Conaghan has confirmed he will be retiring after students and staff have settled at their new location, amid rumours he was imminently leaving his post.

He has released a statement after claims emerged that he, and a number of governors, had stepped down from their positions, following a visit to their new school - a former air traffic control centre.

It is due to be completed and ready for use in the new school year, he says.

Staff and students are currently situated in temporary accommodation at Dorset House in Lansdowne.

They had been delayed moving site following the discovery of a colony of bats.

There have been a number of rumours that Mr Conaghan is leaving Parkfield and he was keen to clarify the situation for parents.

"I am not leaving in the near future and I am fully committed to Parkfield and passionate about the school’s success," he said.

"However I have been in teaching and education for 32 years and I have made the decision to retire at the end of next year in August 2017. By this time the school will be fully established in its permanent location, we will have received another Ofsted inspection, our excellent progress and achievement data will be published nationally and the school will be in a strong position to pass on to my successor.

"The reason for informing the governing body of my intention to retire, when it is still 18 months away, is that the process of recruiting a new principal is very lengthy and the successful applicant will have to give up to two terms' notice at their current school."

Mr Conaghan thanked three governors - which are voluntary positions - who have recently stepped down.

“I am enormously grateful for the incredible amount of time, the hard work, the commitment and support that they have all given to the school and to myself since 2013,” Mr Conaghan said.

"The Government and Department for Education are encouraging academies to have smaller, more business-like governing bodies and therefore we are not looking to recruit any new governors in the short term."