THE head of the exclusive Bedales School at Steep, who is undergoing treatment for a serious illness, will not be returning at the start of the new term.

Alison Willcocks who has been at the school for 20 years and has been deputy head and head for a total of nearly 14 years is not due to leave the £15,000-a-year public school until July next year, following her resignation last October.

A full version of this story will be found in the Petersfield Herald of September 1, 2000.