The head teacher of a Birmingham school locked in a two-year battle with Ofsted's outgoing boss last night said he was leaving his post with "unfinished business".

Chief inspector of schools David Bell is to quit after being promoted to permanent secretary at the Department for Education and Skills.

The job elevates him to the highest civil service position within education and, arguably, places him on par with Secretary of State for Education Ruth Kelly.

But Jane Hattatt, head teacher of Lordswood Girls' School and Technology College in Harborne, urged Mr Bell to resolve her dispute with Ofsted before he left.

The inspection regime has admitted one of its inspectors copied parts of Lordswood Girls' report from that of another school 100 miles away in Bradford.

Ms Hattatt has been pursuing the organisation through its complaints procedure to try and get the report corrected since 2003.

Earlier this month, Ms Hattatt expressed disbelief after reaching the final stage of the parliamentary ombudsman only to be told it did not handle complaints from state schools.

Last night Ms Hattatt said: "I hope Mr Bell is going to tie up the loose ends before he goes. He has not addressed my concerns. He leaves with unfinished business."

Mr Bell will take over his new role at Whitehall on January 3.

Ms Hattatt said: "Perhaps he will be in a better position now to address my complaint about Ofsted.

"This maybe my opportunity to get him to do it. I will be watching his progress with interest."

Ms Kelly said of Mr Bell: "He is someone who cares passionately about education, has an excellent grasp of the issues and the skills to make a real difference."

Mr Bell, who is to be succeeded by Maurice Smith, Ofsted's director of early years, said: "While much has been achieved, there are real challenges across the work of the department, which I am looking forward to."