A RESPECTED head teacher closes the last chapter on his success story at a popular Chorley high school this summer.

John Lawson, who has been at the helm at Southlands for the past 14 years, is leaving to take up another headship at a larger school in Bolton.

Under his leadership, Mr Lawson has seen the Clover Road school flourish.

But he is the first to praise both staff and pupils for their significant parts in the outstanding achievement.

"Southlands has done remarkably well and I think we have achieved so much as a team," he said. "The children here are just fantastic and the staff are wonderful."

He added: "Leaving Southlands is the hardest thing I have ever done professionally in my life.

"I suppose, really, that I felt the time was right for me to move. I wanted a new challenge and I think this school is ready to develop what has begun and carry it on. "I thought for some time that if the right challenge came along I would look at it, and when the opportunity arose it seemed for me the right time and challenge, so I took the opportunity."

Mr Lawson, aged 48, who originates from Accrington, worked in the Midlands, Blackburn and Peterborough before arriving in Chorley.

He will leave Southlands to take over at the 1,600-pupil Smithills School, Bolton, in September.

Mr Lawson, who lives in Adlington, arrived at Southlands, which currently has 58 teachers, as deputy head and took over the headship two years later.

As a tribute to Southlands, which has achieved specialist college status and was named as a school of excellence by Chief Inspector of Schools, Chris Woodhead, in his annual report, Mr Lawson said: "Both my boys came to Southlands, one is at university, the other doing 'A' levels, and what I have wanted for my boys I have wanted for every single child that has passed through my door.

"There's something for every child and I think that's the real strength of this school."

Mr Lawson's successor has still to be chosen.

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