CHILDREN at a New Forest primary school are preparing to wave goodbye to their popular headmaster today, when he sets off for pastures new.

Jonathan Clay, who has been at the helm of St Luke's Primary School in Sway for nearly seven years, won't be venturing too far away though.

He will take up a new post as head of Bartley Junior School in January - just ten miles up the road.

"I have really enjoyed my time here," said Mr Clay. "The pupils and the staff have been great. People who come in often cannot determine who the support team are and who the teachers are. Everyone gets on so well together, it's a real strength."

Mr Clay is excited about the new challenges ahead of him but will leave St Luke's and its 205 pupils with a tear in his eye.

"I think it's time to do something different," he said. "I got to the point where I knew I could stay here forever so it's time to move on to do some new things.

"I am looking forward to starting at the new school but not to leaving here. It will be very difficult. You get very attached to the children and all their families."

Since his arrival Mr Clay has overseen many school musical productions and organised a number of projects to improve its standing in the community.

Over the past four years two new permanent classrooms have been built to accommodate the school's growing number of pupils.