QE ACADEMY Trust principal Richard Newton Chance has announced that he has decided to retire at the end of this academic year.

Mr Newton Chance has been principal at QE, in Crediton, since 2001 and was formerly vice principal at Lipson Community College from 1995 to 2000.

In a statement on the QE Academy website, he says: "It is going to be really hard to give up something I thoroughly enjoy doing, but now seems an appropriate time to pass the leadership of this great school on to somebody else.

"We have come a long way since the last Ofsted and when they come, as they more than likely will in the next two terms, we think we have a very good story to tell.

"Our results have improved at GCSE, progress measures for English and Maths, which are at the heart of any judgement these days, look good and the Sixth Form looks outstanding.

"The hard work teachers, Learning Area Team Leaders, support staff and my team have put in has resulted in an increase in the good and outstanding teaching we are seeing and that seems to have had a knock on into student behaviour.