The Berkeley Institute is continuing its search to find a new headteacher before the start of the new school year in September.

The quest to find a replacement for current principal Michelle Simmons, who retires in June, began earlier this year, but so far no new appointment has been made.

A recruitment advert will be running again in the coming days as the Search and Selection Committee has not as yet identified a suitable candidate for this important leadership role.

The school’s Board of Governors chairman Craig Bridgewater said: “We take the issue of school leadership very seriously and the selection process that involves all of the Berkeley family including the board, teachers, students and parents has proven thorough and effective.

“Our aim is to have a new principal in place prior to the start of the new school year.”

A spokesman for the school added: “Michelle Simmons retires at the end of this school year after some 20 years at the helm. During this period Mrs Simmons led the school through the transition from a selective institution at the former Berkeley Institute site to open comprehensive enrolment at the current Berkeley site. The GCSE programme was reintroduced and the school became an internationally accredited senior secondary school.

“The Berkeley Institute, a diverse senior school with a rich heritage and tradition of excellence, provides a stimulating learning environment that prepares students to lead full and purposeful lives and to assume leadership roles in both the local and global communities.”