THE headteacher of Bury Grammar School for Boys is swapping the classroom for a cathedral.

The Reverend Steven Harvey will leave the school at Easter after seven years at the helm for a new role at Newcastle Cathedral.

He will be a residentiary canon, with particular responsibility for educational work, such as lectures, exhibitions and links with schools.

Mr Harvey, aged 54, said: “In a sense it is a change because I am leaving being head of a school and moving to a cathedral, but the key role at the cathedral will be educational work. I am very much looking forward to it.

“I have done seven years here and seen one generation move through the senior school.

“It has been a very happy and fulfilling period. I have enjoyed working with the staff, the boys and their parents.”

Mr Harvey said the highlights of his time in Bury had included improved facilities at the school, former Foreign Secretary Douglas Hurd attending the 2008 prizegiving, and providing a wide range of extra-curricular activities, especially World Challenge expeditions.

“I am also particularly proud of the growing links with the girls’ school. We are a family of five schools and I have felt that the closer relationship between the boys’ school and the girls’ school, particularly at sixth form level, has been very good,” he added.

Mr Harvey, who lives in Ramsbottom, has combined religion and education during his career.

While in Bury, he has served as honorary assistant priest at Blackburn Cathedral.

His previous posts have included three years as assistant curate at Oldham Parish Church and seven years as deputy headteacher of Kingswood School, Bath.

The governors are looking for a new headteacher for the school.