Last updated at 20:05, Thursday, 26 April 2012

Eaglesfield Paddle Academy, near Cockermouth, has appointed the first woman headteacher in its 198-year history.

Dawn Watson, 40, of Branthwaite, joined the school last week following the retirement of head Rod Coy.

Mrs Watson, who lives with her husband Simon, son Jack and daughter Trinity, has been a teacher for 17 years and was most recently head of a large primary school in Oldham.

She said she would look at developing the school’s IT and outdoor curriculum.

She added: “We had always wanted to live in this area as it is such a beautiful place, so when the headteacher role was advertised I had to come and have a look.”

Mrs Watson said she hoped she could move the school forward and bring her experience of working in a different area to Eaglesfield.

She said: “Rod Coy was a superb head, highly respected by all the school community and a hard act to follow.

“The children here are friendly, interesting and inquisitive, the staff are hard working, and the governors have been very supportive.

“The whole school community has been very helpful and welcoming. We have been thinking about what we need to work on to make our school even better as it approaches its bicentenary.”

She takes over from deputy head Andrew Davies, who became acting headteacher when Mr Coy retired.

First published at 19:19, Thursday, 26 April 2012
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk