THE head teacher of Queen's College, Taunton, is leaving to take up a new headship in Cheshire.

Dr Lorraine Earps has been head of the school since June 2016.

She had previously served for a period as acting head following the departure of Chris Alcock.

Before that, Dr Earps, the first woman to hold the top job at Queen's, had been deputy head for three years.

The governors are currently in the process of appointing a replacement.

A spokesperson for Queen's said: "Lorraine is taking up a new headship in Cheshire and we are nearing completion of the process of appointing a new head.

"We will be issuing a statement with the announcement of our new head later this month."

Before her arrival in Taunton, Dr Earps, who is married with a teenage son, was director of studies at Withington Girls' School.

Prior to that she was head of chemistry at Stockport Grammar School.

READ MORE: Dr Lorraine Earps to take over at Queen's College after Chris Alcock's resignation

She was brought up in St Helens and studied chemistry and biochemistry at the University of Southampton before obtaining her doctorate in protein chemistry and then teaching in the state sector for six years.

At the time of her appointment as head teacher at Queen's, she said: “I am delighted and honoured to have been chosen to lead this wonderful school.

“When I walked through the doors of Queen’s for the very first time, I felt it was a special place.

“I am really looking forward to working with the entire community – and particularly the outstanding staff and students – to take the school from strength to strength."

NOTE: Comments have been removed from this story after the posting of unfounded speculation over the school.