One of the Britain's most prestigious Catholic independent schools is to appoint its first lay head teacher.After more than 200 years with a monk in charge, Ampleforth College in North Yorkshire is to begin the search for a lay man or woman to lead the 600-pupil co-educational school.
The move means that there are no longer any English Benedictine private schools with monk headmasters.
The current headmaster, Fr Gabriel Everitt, is to retire after 10 years in the role.
The new head teacher is expected to take over between September 2014 and January 2015.
Ampleforth said the monastic community would still remain actively involved in the governance of the school.