JULIA Elliott is stepping down as head of Dringhouses primary school after 12 years in the post and 25 years as a head teacher.

Miss Elliott has been a headteacher three times over and started out at Greenhead First School in Northumberland with a total of just 27 pupils.

She moved on to become head at Stockton-on-Forest, where the school had 100 pupils.

She is now looking to leave Dringhouses, which has 300 youngsters, after more than a decade.

Miss Elliott, who lives in Stamford Bridge and has a daughter, Rosie, 19, said she is not retiring, but staying in education.

She will be taking on a more behind-the-scenes role, helping to train teachers who are looking to become heads or are newly appointed head teachers for City of York Council.

She said: “I am looking forward to going on to new challenges and I still want to stay in education and leadership. I am going to miss being at Dringhouses and most of all I will miss the children. They bring so much joy.

"I’ll also miss the variety of the job, because each day is different and has its own challenges. At Dringhouses we have built a really strong team. There’s a fantastic team around me, of people who really know what they are doing.’’

When Miss Elliott steps down at the end of term, her deputy, Jenny Langley, is also leaving. Miss Langley will be taking on the headteacher’s role at Bishopthorpe Infants.

The new head at Dringhouses will be Gill Williams. Mrs Williams will take over in September. She is currently a consultant for City of York Council. Her deputy will be Kim Peacock.

Miss Elliott said: “I wish the new leadership lots of success and as much happiness as I have had.”

City of York Council’s education chief, Coun Janet Looker, said: “One of the highlights of Julia’s headship was a term-long secondment she spent in Africa and the inspirational ideas she brought back added a real richness and diversity to the pupils’ learning in York.

"Indeed, the school’s appetite for and success in learning was reflected in it being judged good by Ofsted in November 2011.

“We wish Julia well for the future.”