THE headteacher of one of the region’s leading comprehensives is leaving.

Carolyn Roberts has been head at Durham Johnston Comprehensive School, in Durham City, since 2005.

In that time, Johnston has been recognised as one of the best performing state schools in the area.

In 2009, it ceased to be split-site, moving to a £24m purpose-built facility at Crossgate Moor; and a year later then Prime Minister Gordon Brown and his senior ministers made history by holding a cabinet meeting at the school.

Mrs Roberts is leaving to become head of Thomas Tallis School, in Greenwich, London, in September.

She said: “I have had eight-and-a-half very happy years as head of this exceptional school.

“Deciding to accept a new challenge elsewhere was a wrench but I know Johnston will continue to go from strength to strength.

“Wonderful young people, magnificent staff, supportive families and excellent governors make this a happy and successful community school which I shall miss enormously.”

Professor Simon Morris, the school’s chair of governors, said: “In spite of the disruption that any major building project brings, and the constant change that comes from government, under Carolyn’s leadership the school nonetheless achieved an ‘outstanding’ grading in its recent Ofsted report.

“We are immensely grateful for all she has done for the school, which continues to be recognised as a leading school in the North-East of England. We wish her well in her new role.”

Governors have begun the process of recruiting a successor. Interviews are expected to take place in July, with a new head taking up the role in January.