HEADMASTER Graham Hawley will be practising what he preaches when he leaves Kelly College for a new challenge at the end of next summer — but he admits it will be a real wrench.

Dr Hawley, who joined Kelly as head five years ago, is heading north to Loretto School in Edinburgh, Scotland's oldest boarding school — seizing an opportunity, he says, that would not arise again, at his time of life.

'It will be a real wrench to leave here — I feel as if we have been here forever as we feel so at home — but one of the things I discourage pupils from doing is wondering 'what if',' he said.

'Sometimes in life you have to push open doors and you find something interesting when you walk through them.

'Kelly is a hugely special place and my family and I have had a wonderful time here but now it is time to walk through another door.'

Dr Hawley said what he loved about boarding schools was the privilege to share the lives of children in their formative years: 'This job is the best job in the world,' he said. 'It allows you to see the children in school, on the sports fields, in their houses and doing all sorts of activities.

'The size of Kelly is such is that you know all the pupils and seeing them achieve and grow in self esteem and confidence is wonderful. This is a very child-centred school, putting the child at the very heart of everything we do here whether academically, in pastoral care or in the wide range of different activities they take part in.'

The head said in the last five years he had seen the college build on the international reputation it had for swimming with the securing of the 50m Olympic legacy pool, for which a small amount of money was still to be raised before installation.

A new Saturday programme of activities had also been introduced giving pupils options for outdoor activities and creative arts activities as well as the more traditional academic studies.

'It's very exciting and brings in a flexibility in our school and it seems to be going very well,' said Dr Hawley.

A complete refurbishment of 'School House' had also been a great success with the traditional boys boarding house now occupied by girls. Dr Hawley said the college had also seen the academic results get stronger.

'I am proud of what we have done but for me it is the personal triumphs of pupils which give me the greatest pleasure,' he said.

'It's the understanding for the first time of photosynthesis or playing the organ for the first time in chapel or having the courage to take part in the school play.'

Mr Hawley added: 'Our Kelly years will always be a very special chapter in our family life. We have also thoroughly enjoyed being part of the wider Tavistock community. The friendliness of the town and the diversity of events that take place here make it a very attractive place to live.

'Kelly College is a wonderful school in which to live and work and consequently there will be a very strong field of applicants to succeed me.'

The governing body has begun the process of choosing the next principal who will start in September 2014.

Kelly College has 310 students, half of which are boarders and half day pupils, and there are 150 pupils at Kelly Preparatory School.