Nick Young said farewell to staff and students at Wheatley Park School after almost 12 years as headteacher.

He will take up his new headship at King Alfred's Sports and Community College in Wantage from January.

Mr Young, who has lived in Wantage since 1984, succeeds Bernard Clarke, who left to become a consultant headteacher in Kent.

When he took over at Wheatley Park from David John in 1993, Mr Young found the local community generous when education cuts were "beginning to bite".

The school is set in woodland with a medieval moat, a Georgian mansion and a converted stable block.

But Mr Young had visions of creating a £200,000 arts centre and a community fundraising bid was launched.

Events included Oxford's first camel racing day, in which Mr Young competed in two races.

The money was eventually raised and the arts centre established.

In September 2000, Wheatley Park became Oxfordshire's first specialist arts college.

Mr Young said: "My philosophy is to encourage young people to develop by offering the widest possible range of opportunities.

"Wheatley Park offers four languages including Latin, has extensive international links and encourages every department to have business partners.

"We hold many awards -- Artsmark Gold, Sportsmark, International Schools Award, Investors in People -- but really it is the quality of relationship between staff and students that brings out the best in young people."

Mr Young sits on the Oxfordshire University Admissions Panel, is a member of the Court of Oxford Brookes University and was chairman of the Oxfordshire Secondary Heads Association during 2000-2001.

Kate Curtis, former head of modern languages at Lord Williams's School takes over at Wheatley Park from next term.