THE headteacher of Abingdon School has announced he is to leave next year.

Mark Turner said his decision to move was not a sign of keenness to go, but a chance to take on fresh opportunities and challenges.

From September 2010 Mr Turner, 47, will become headteacher at Shrewsbury School – after eight-and-a-half years at Abingdon.

He has written to all current and perspective parents and 4,000 former pupils to announce his departure.

He said: “Shrewsbury represents fresh and new challenges.

“Opportunities such as those do not come around very often.

“In keeping with the encouragement I often give to boys to ‘go for it’, I have decided to do just that.”