Warminster School head teacher Martin Priestley will be leaving the school to start a new role at the end of 2013, after seven years in charge of the school.

Mr Priestley is taking on a new challenge from January 2014 as the head teacher of The Leys School in Cambridge, which is closer to his home in north Norfolk.

The 45-year-old, who lives in the headmaster’s house in Church Street with his wife Alison during term time, will be replaced by Mark Mortimer, current deputy head teacher at St John’s School in Leatherhead.

Mr Priestley, who studied politics, philosophy and economics at Oxford University after moving from Hong Kong to England in 1984, said: “It’s great to leave on such a high following the fantastic inspectors’ report, although there is a lot I will miss, especially my colleagues and the wonderful pupils.

“I have so many great memories, especially taking the school through its 300th anniversary celebrations in 2007, but the future of the school is in very good hands.”

Chairman of governors Dick Payn said: “Martin Priestley leaves a school which is very different from the one he inherited seven years ago. “As evidenced by the outstanding recent ISI inspection reports, he has managed substantial improvement during his term of office.”