A HEADTEACHER has announced he is stepping down from a secondary school to seek a career outside of education.

Tom Goodenough, head of Didcot Girls' School, will leave at the end of April after 19 months in the role.

He has worked at the school for six years, becoming head in September 2018, and has been in teaching for 15 years.

The announcement was made in a letter to parents on Tuesday, in which Mr Goodenough said it had been a 'privilege' to work at the school.

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He wrote: "I feel the time is right for me - after 15 years teaching and leading in similar schools in Hampshire, Berkshire and Oxfordshire - to pursue a new challenge.

"My successor will be in the fortunate position of leading an amazing community at an exciting time in its development.

"I am therefore very confident that the school will continue to flourish under its current governance, the leadership of Rachael Warwick [executive head], the outstanding staff and student bodies and of course, the new headteacher.

"I look forward to continuing to serve this amazing school for the next four months and wish everyone involved in our very special community the very best for both this next term and beyond."

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He said he was looking to move onto a job outside of education, or an education-related role 'outside the mainstream'.

The school is now advertising for a replacement and interviews are due to take place at the end of the month.

A post on its website said: "We seek to appoint a dynamic and ambitious leader who is excited by the opportunity to lead an outstanding school in a thriving trust.

"We welcome applications from men and women who are committed to girls’ education.

"Our aspiration is to be world class and we seek someone with a similar passion and belief in what we can achieve."

The all-girls state school is part of the Ridgeway Trust, which also runs St Birinus School and Sutton Courtenay CE Primary School.