THE headteacher of High Wycombe’s Royal Grammar School will retire at the end of the next academic year, it has been announced.

Roy Page will step down as headmaster in August 2015 after 43 years at the RGS, parents and children were notified in a letter yesterday.

He is a National Leader of Education and will have been at the helm of the Amersham Road-based school for nine years when he retires.

Mr Page said: “It has been a great privilege to be head at the RGS for the last eight years, and at the school as a teacher for 42 years in total so far.

“While I still have much work to do over the coming months, this announcement allows the school to run the best possible process to find my successor.

“I remain focused on leading the school and look forward to a smooth transition in due course. The incoming head will inherit a great school with great boys and a superb team of staff.”

School governors have been working with Mr Page on his planned retirement and have appointed education search firm RS Academics to help seek out a successor - who could be announced by August.

The governors have also consulted all staff members to “capture the RGS ethos”, refreshed the school’s strategy and spoken to governors of “like schools” that have gone through a similar recruitment process.

Steve Ashton, Chair of Governors, said: “For several months now, the governors have been working with the Headmaster on his planned retirement.

“This has been a collaborative process and, after over 40 years of outstanding service, Roy has confirmed his intention to retire at the end of August 2015.

“It is always good to be able to start a recruitment process from a position of strength and the school, in our view, is in very good shape.

“I know that Roy and the senior team have much they still want to achieve together over the coming months and the governors will be supporting them to that end while ensuring a smooth transition to a new head.”