CRUDWELL School's deputy head teacher Giles Panting, known to pupils as Mr P, is leaving to take up a position as deputy head of Holy Trinity School in Calne.

Mr Panting, 28, has been at the school three years and will take his final class at the end of term on December 21, before taking up his new position in the New Year.

"It will be a totally different situation at Holy Trinity, which is a much larger school, but I will miss the wonderful children we have here, who are very well motivated and have been so well behaved," said Mr Panting.

"Most of the children call me Mr P and I would like to think they will miss me."

He said Crudwell has 85 children, compared to 210 at Holy Trinity.

His successor at Crudwell School is not yet known.

His departure comes a term before the retirement of Crudwell School's head teacher Barbara Harvey.

"It will be a period of change but I'm sure it will be a positive change," said Mr Panting, who joined from Corsham School on January 1 1999.

He said his fondest memories at the school included taking part in Bob's Concert, the annual entertainment fundraising evening at All Saint's Church in the village, and the gang show in the village hall each March.

Mr Panting takes recorder classes at the school and said his pupils had performed in Bob's Concert for two of the past three years.

He said he was also proud of the music makers after-school club, in which children interested in a variety of music could come along to play, and a ceramics club.

"I have had a wonderful time at the school and will be sad to leave.

"I have made some terrific friendships with staff members here," said Mr Panting, who lives in Box.