THE headmaster of Wellington School is stepping down, it has been announced.

Martin Reader has been appointed head of Cranleigh School in Surrey and will take up the role in September 2014.

He said: “I am always most proud of the students, parents and the staff, for together they are what makes a school such as Wellington so special.”

Mr Reader, who has family in the South-East, will have been headmaster at the school for eight years when he leaves his post.

He has overseen considerable developments at Wellington and this year the school enjoyed its best ever A-level results.

Philip Nunnerley, chairman of governors, said the school will look to appoint a successor in the summer of 2013 and added: “In the meantime, we are delighted that we still have Mr Reader in post for five terms.”