NOT content with being headteacher of the biggest school in Cheshire, Poynton High's Mark Wasserberg is moving on to take the helm at the biggest school in the UK.

After five years in Poynton, Mr Wasserberg, 51, has decided to accept a promotion to principal of Stantonbury Campus in Milton Keynes.

He should feel at home at the new school as, like Poynton, it has specialist arts college status and even has its own theatre.

Mr Wasserberg, who will leave at the end of the summer term, said: "Stantonbury Campus is a school of more than 2,600 students, currently the largest school in the country. It will certainly be a different challenge.

"Although it will be a wrench to leave Poynton High School, this is a once in a career opportunity, which I felt I could not pass over."

Mr Wasserberg, who is married with four grown-up children, comes from Sussex originally and worked in Congleton before joining Poynton High.

He said he would miss the school, which has 1,730 pupils, and had been very happy there.

"Without a doubt I'll miss the people most that I work with and the students and parents," said Mr Wasserberg. "My personal highlight was getting arts college status."

The school was awarded the specialist status last year and over four years will receive £1m to build arts facilities, which will benefit the whole community.

Mr Wasserberg also said the school was a good one when he arrived but since he had been there student achievement had risen, more students were staying on in the sixth form and the school environment had improved.

But he recognised that any improvements in the school were a team effort and said: "I have total confidence in the staff and governors of our school to continue its development and believe the coming years will be very exciting for students and the entire community.

"I shall, of course, continue to give my best on behalf of the school until August 31."

Chairman of governors Kathryn Farrar said: "The governors are sorry to see Mr Wasserberg leave Poynton High, as the school has continued to thrive under his leadership. We thank him wholeheartedly for his tireless work for the school and wish him all the very best in his new appointment."

Deputy head, Sue Adamson, will be acting head teacher from September 2003 to August 2004 and the governors will start the process of appointing a new head over the next few months.