THE driving force behind Skipton's successful Parish Church School is leaving at Easter to face new challenges.

Mike Latham joined Parish as headteacher in September 1994 and has helped it become one of an elite group of "highly effective" schools in North Yorkshire.

Under his headship the school's interior has been redesigned to incorporate a ICT suite, library, and theatre and study areas.

One of Mr Latham's lasting legacies to the school will be its high-tech facilities and international links with other schools.

The school was one of the first to achieve the Basic Skills Agency Quality mark, was the first in the county to receive the British Council International School Award in 2002 and has received impressive Ofsted reports.

Before joining Parish Mr Latham was deputy head at Ings School, Skipton, from 1986 to 1990, following which he became head at Cowling School.

He said: "Leaving Parish was never going to be an easy decision to make. The outstanding support that I have received from the LEA, colleagues, parents and governors over the years has made the position a pleasure to hold.

"The children could not have been more responsive and the challenge has always been to ensure the school offered the breadth of opportunity to match their enthusiasm.

"However there comes a time when a completely new challenge is required."

Mr Latham has been appointed headteacher at Newby Primary School in Bradford. Newby is a 500-pupil inner city multi-cultural primary school where 90 per cent of youngsters speak English as their second language.

Despite being in the fifth most deprived ward in the UK, the school has Beacon status for behaviour management. It is at the heart of a regeneration project, and benefits from huge financial investment by the Government.

One of Mr Latham's first challenges will be to oversee the building of a new arts and sports complex on site.