Long-standing Tapanui School principal Antony Criglington departs the school at the end of this term, after 12 years at the helm.
Mr Criglington will return to his native Canterbury, where he will become principal of Amberley School, which has a roll of about 250 pupils.
Tapanui School featured in reports recently due to its falling roll, which at present is 73, down from a 2017 peak of 145.
Tapanui families choosing to send their children to nearby Heriot School has led the Ministry of Education to consult the community on possible enrolment zoning for Heriot, as it approaches capacity.
However, Mr Criglington said his decision to leave predated the current situation, and was wholly unconnected.
"I’m looking forward to a new environment, new challenges and to leading the curriculum in a larger school.
"I arrived at Tapanui in April 2010 from Christchurch, where I had previously been the assistant principal at Thorrington School.
"I remember arriving on my first day and seeing the students sitting in front of me at assembly and asking the deputy principal if everyone was here yet.
"They were — the whole school was smaller than the year 5-6 syndicate I had previously been leading back in Christchurch."
He would miss his many local friends, and West Otago’s "salt of the earth" people, he said.
"Tapanui, the town and the school, have been a great place to raise our own children. They have all thrived in their own way and it’s hard to leave. At the same time, it is exciting to be returning to my roots. It’ll be good to back in red and black country."
Deputy principal Jane Stuart will become acting principal until his replacement is recruited.
Tapanui board of trustees presiding member Tracy McHutchon said Mr Criglington had been an "amazing principal", and would leave big shoes to fill.
"We’ll miss his skills, experience and knowledge of education. But we understand he’s ready for a change-up, and we can’t begrudge him that."
She was confident a new principal would be found quickly, in readiness for term 1 next year, Mrs McHutchon said.
"I think a diverse rural posting like Tapanui/West Otago provides a strong drawcard.
"It’s a pretty cool place to grow up and learn."
