The new head of Dearham school is determined to keep the village ethos that has made it so popular with parents and children.

Lyndsey Walker, 42, has been acting head at the school since Easter and was deputy head for four of her nine years at the school.

“I am over the moon to be appointed. When I came to Dearham from Victoria Junior School I moved to the village. Both my children have gone to school here

“I have always loved the fact that it is a village school with strong community links, which I want to foster and grow.

“Dearham has been expanding rapidly but I am determined to keep the village feel and keep the children at the heart of every decisions we make.”

The first thing she has done is create a Year 6 senior leadership team with a head boy and girl. They meet weekly to discuss ideas for school improvement.

Dearham Primary School is part of a multi-academy trust with Flimby and Northside School.

Mrs Walker said she enjoying working closely with Jacqui Wilson, who is the headteacher of Flimby and the executive headteacher of Northside.

Mrs Walker has a background in foreign languages and was working in the corporate world before deciding she wanted to teach in 2004.

Her interest in languages and other cultures has continued with Dearham winning two British Council Erasmus + awards for its international work through its partner school in Germany and for work in schools in Spain, Italy and Turkey looking at fitness, health and well-being.