PUPILS and staff bid farewell to a York head who has stepped down after 34 years in teaching and a decade at the helm of a city secondary school.

As part of a surprise for David Ellis on his last day in post today all pupils got together for a full school photograph at York High School holding up a banner wishing him well.

Mr Ellis, 56, has been in charge at the Acomb secondary for ten years and before that was at Oaklands School for two years. He oversaw the merger between Oaklands and Lowfield which lead to the creation of York High.

He started out his career at Joseph Rowntree School, where he met his wife and fellow teacher, Sue. He worked there for 13 years before moving to become head of sixth form at Boroughbridge High and was deputy head at Arch Bishop Holgate's CE before moving to Oaklands after Michell Burns retired.

Looking back over his time at York High Mr Ellis referred to the merger with Lowfield, the fire that ripped through the old school building in 2008, and the opportunity that followed to build up an entirely new school.

Mr Ellis said: "I have to say it's been a really exciting and enjoyable journey. There are not many people that get the opportunity to create a new school from scratch - not just the buildings, but the whole ethos of the school and appoint every single member of staff. The new school name, York High, was my idea and I came up with the mission statement and our values. It genuinely feels like my school and I know it's not just mine, but I do feel that I have got that extra ownership of it. I have been part of the history of the school from day one and it's been a real pleasure and a privilege from that point of view."

* Click here for gallery of old York High photos

As previously reported, the school was placed in special measures after an Ofsted report and will now join Southbank multi-academy trust along with Millthorpe, Scarcroft and Knavesmire Schools with Rod Sims becoming the new head at York High.

After retirement Mr Ellis said he'd like to take some time out to travel and improve his golf handicap, but he hasn't ruled out a return to education in some other capacity, though not with Ofsted. He also made reference to his political affiliations - he was a prospective parliamentary candidate for Labour in Ryedale in the May 2001 General Election, when the seat went to Tory John Greenway, and remains a committed socialist.

Colleagues have lined up to pay tribute to Mr Ellis's work in the city. Trevor Burton, head at Millthorpe School, said: “I first met David Ellis when I came to York as a new head teacher at Millthorpe School in April 2011. David was the first person in York to visit me, welcome me to my new and rather scary post and offer me some tips on how to survive the first few weeks. I’ll not forget that kindness. I came to understand over the following years how much he has contributed to education in York and we will all miss him.”

Rod Sims who will be Head of School when MR Ellis leaves and has been at the school for ten years, said: “I am proud to have worked David because of his passion for equality and fairness in education. As the first member of his family to go to university he is driven by a desire to make education accessible to all and has spent a professional lifetime championing the disadvantaged.”

Steve Hardy, learning leader and staff governor, said: "Mr Ellis has transformed the education provision in the west of York and has provided a school in which any young person can achieve their dreams. York High has become a safe place for all young people, regardless of their looks, beliefs, gender, sexuality or background, to learn and succeed. Anybody who believes this school is inadequate should simply spend one day here and see what a wonderful place it has become."

Tricia Miller, chairman of governors, said: "David's guiding principle and focus has always been to get the best improvements in the lives of his pupils. It has been a privilege and an honour to have worked with him."