Kevin Ryalls, head teacher at Jedburgh Grammar for the past three years, is leaving to take over at the helm at 870-pupil Galashiels Academy, writes Andrew Keddie.
The 44-year-old, who was selected from a final short-list of three, will now return to a school where he served as deputy head teacher for six years.
The vacancy at Jedburgh will now be advertised.
A graduate of Glasgow University, Mr Ryalls started teaching modern languages at Dundee before moving to Edinburgh in 1997 – first as a senior teacher at Portobello and then as a principal teacher at Gracemount.
He joined Galashiels Academy as deputy head teacher in 2005 and took up his current headship in Jedburgh at the beginning of 2012.
“The opportunity to lead Galashiels Academy is a great honour and privilege,” said Mr Ryalls this week.
“I am very much looking forward to working again with staff, pupils and the wider Galashiels community in building on the significant work being undertaken and the school’s main strengths.
“As we move forward, this support and partnership will be very important in order to develop ambitious and responsible young people.”