THE headmaster of a Ribble Valley independent school has announced his intention to step down at the end of the academic year.

Adrian Aylward has been headmaster at Stonyhurst College for nearly 10 years but says the time is now right for him to 'seek new challenges'.

However, he has not yet lined up a new job.

A merchant banker and chief executive of a multi-million pound public company before joining the teaching profession, Mr Aylward took over the headmaster post in 1996.

Since then the fee-paying Jesuit boarding school, which teaches pupils aged 13-18, has undergone a period of significant change, including becoming co-educational.

Mr Aylward, a 48-year-old father-of-three, informed parents of his decision by letter this week.

It read: "By next summer I shall have completed 10 years as headmaster and it seems a sensible time to hand over the reins and for myself to seek new challenges."

Kevin Ryan, the chairman of governors, said: "Adrian will go with the governors' heartfelt thanks for the significant contribution which he has made to the life of the college."

Mr Ryan said the governors were actively taking steps to appoint a successor.