THE chairman of governors at a Hampshire school has resigned.

John Galliford joined the governing body of The Burgate School, near Fordingbridge, in 1998 and was made chairman in 2006.

He was involved in the appointment of David Pover, the school’s first new head teacher for 23 years.

In his letter of resignation he says: “Having re-enforced our commitment to improve the levels of literacy of our pupils and students by becoming a humanities and English college in 2008, we subsequently welcomed the opportunity to convert to an academy in 2001.

“Along the way we opened a stunning new building to extend the facilities in our very successful sixth form and undertook numerous other capital expenditure projects.

“Both personally and professionally I know now is the right time to be handing over the reins to my successor, Jenny Hair.”

Mr Pover thanked Mr Galliford for the enormous contribution he had made to the school over the past 15 years.