A Keighley headteacher will be stepping down from his post to take on a ‘monster’ of a job as head of the country’s biggest Catholic school.

Lawrence Bentley will have been head of Holy Family Catholic School for six years when he departs in August.

And this September he is to become head of the new St Bede’s and St Joseph’s Catholic College in Bradford.

Mr Bentley has been Holy Family’s head since August 2008. He said he has thoroughly enjoyed his time there, having already been familiar with the school well before 2008, as he was a trainee teacher there in the mid-1980s.

“I’ve had an amazing time, and it will be a wrench to leave,” he added. “It’s tough, hard, stressful work sometimes, but very rewarding.

“The kids are fantastic and the staff, parents and governors have been supportive.

“I just hope I’ve done my best for the school and for the wider community of Keighley. I’m proud this is a good school, not least in the eyes of Ofsted.”

Mr Bentley said: “I think it’s important a headteacher does not stay in post for too long – a school should get a fresh pair of eyes in the hot seat. We’ve got a strong leadership team that is poised to take the school to the next level, and we have an innovative and exciting curriculum.”

Commenting on his new post, he said: “It’s quite an exciting prospect, but it’s also a monster of a job in many ways.

“However, there are good people there who I’ve worked with previously, which is partly the reason I was attracted to the role.”