Newent Community School has a new Principal, but she is no stranger at the school.

Mrs Kirsten Harrison has been appointed, with immediate effect, after leading the school out of special measures as its headteacher .

Mrs Harrison took the school out of “Special Measures” within a year, - with the school once more being judged by Ofsted as “Good” in all Ofsted areas, by January 2014.

Following the Ofsted judgement, the governors undertook a national recruitment campaign to appoint the best person to continue taking the school forward.

Mrs Harrison was successful against strong competition from other current Headteachers and Deputy Headteachers for the permanent appointment as the best person to lead the School from “Good” to “Outstanding”.

The Ofsted report praised the Headteacher, Kirsten Harrison, as “instrumental” in the school’s rapid improvement, citing her “attention to detail and determination that nothing but the best is acceptable for the students in the school” as key to improving the quality of teaching and achievement at the school.

The new Principal recruitment consisted of a rigorous two day selection process which involved interviews with students, staff and governors, lesson observations, data analysis and a presentation.

On her appointment Mrs Harrison said that she was “delighted to be given the opportunity to lead the school into the future ".

"It is a privilege to continue working with such a dedicated staff and such an excellent group of young people,” she said.