The head teacher of Greendown Community School is leaving after 15 years in the job.

Ian Matthews, 55, plans to leave at the end of the school year to become a school OFSTED inspector or take up advisory work.

"I think it is time for a new headmaster to take over the school," he said.

"I want to leave the school while it is on a high."

Mr Matthews is the founding headmaster of Greendown, which opened in 1986.

"I announced that I will be moving earlier than I needed to, to ensure there is enough time to find a replacement head and to help the transition. There is no way I am going to leave the school without a good head teacher.

"My main priority at the moment is the running of the school and the well-being of the pupils."

In May, Mr Matthews told the Evening Advertiser that Greendown School was facing a staffing crisis which he said was the worst in the school's 14 year history, with many teachers not wanting to work in the town because of a combination of high house prices and Swindon's poor image.

He said the school had a shortfall of 14 teachers and six specialist staff but is now fully staffed.

Unlike primary schools in the town, which have been given £570,000 by the Government to cut class sizes by recruiting more staff, secondary schools have received no such support and many are finding it difficult to retain the teachers they have on their payroll.

Mr Matthews explained Swindon Borough Council's policy of attempting to keep difficult children within mainstream schools has also had an impact on staff morale and school standards.

The community school is used by residents of West Swindon as the venue for a variety of clubs, societies, adult education courses and after school clubs.