TAUNTON School has announced today (September 4) that headmaster Dr John Newton is leaving at the end of the year.

Dr Newton has been appointed principal of Scotch College, one of the most prestigious schools in South Australia.

Deputy head Lee Glaser has been appointed interim headmaster of Taunton School with effect from January 1.

Chair of Governors Jane Barrie congratulated Dr Newton on his “impressive appointment to a school like Taunton with huge global ambitions and the capacity to meet them.”

She added: “He has been an outstanding headmaster during his ten-year tenure at Taunton School and the school has gone from strength to strength.”

Mrs Barrie described Mr Glaser as “a senior leader of outstanding ability and judgement.”

She said: “Taunton School is in rude health with a distinctive educational provision, a national reputation and strong finances to enable long-term investment.”

The governors are aiming to appoint a permanent successor to Dr Newton by the end of the autumn term. The new headmaster would take up office from September 2015.

Dr Newton is also chairman of TauntonForward, a private sector lobbying group recently established to press for change in the area.

TauntonForward spokesman Kit Chapman said: “We shall be sad to see him go – he has been an exceptional chairman.

“He coined the expression ‘critical friend’ to define our relationship with the council and has proved to be a superb diplomat.”