The departing head teacher of a Sittingbourne school says it is with “considerable sadness” that he is leaving – but he won’t miss the traffic on the A2.

It was revealed in October that Jonathan Hopkins was to quit Borden Grammar School to take over at Barton Court Grammar in Canterbury this month.

He has been at the school in the Avenue of Remembrance for six years and before that was at Highsted Grammar School in Sittingbourne for eight years.

Addressing pupils, staff and parents, he said: “It is with considerable sadness that I am saying farewell to Borden. I’ve very much enjoyed leading the school since 2013.

“Ofsted visited us twice in this period and the school received strong endorsements on both occasions about the quality of education that Borden provides.

“Throughout my time staff have benefited from the support of parents and we work hard to keep building a vibrant school community.

“That our attendance is the highest in Swale tells you something about the school we are – one that people want to be at.”

Garry Mulligan will be acting head teacher until August 2020.

The Board of Trustees has appointed Maureen Johnson, formerly head at Weald of Kent Grammar School, to lead the recruitment process for Borden’s next head teacher.

In the interim, the senior team of Richard Artingstoll, Sue Smith and Chris Brinn will help lead the school, along with Michelle Brooker as associate assistant head teacher from January.

In his final assembly, Mr Hopkins reflected on some of the challenges he had faced.

Back in 2013, he inherited a school which had significant financial challenges and he said he was pleased to be leaving it in a much healthier position.

“When I started at Borden the school had less than 80 first choices from the local community,” he added.

“Over the past six years the profile of the school has changed notably and the school roll is much stronger and healthier than what I was presented with.

“If my legacy is to ensure the continuation of a purposeful grammar school in Sittingbourne then we have achieved something together that was not a certainty back in 2013.”

He did, however, add that “he won’t miss the traffic delays on the A2 in the morning”.

Mr Hopkins will replace Ian Macaulay at the 970-pupil Barton Court Grammar.

Read more: All the latest news from Sittingbourne

Read more: All the latest news from the Isle of Sheppey

Read more: All the latest news from Canterbury