THERE'LL be a new head at a primary academy in Strensall come September.

The current head teacher at Headlands primary in Haxby, Sarah Wright, is taking over the reins as principal at Robert Wilkinson Primary Academy in Strensall from interim principal Chris Evans at the start of the new school year.

Mrs Wright has been in charge at Headlands for three and a half years. Previously she had been deputy head and acting head at Yearsley Grove Primary School in York. Mr Evans was previously vice principal at Robert Wikinson and will return to that role.

Mrs Wright said: “Robert Wilkinson is a bigger school, is part of the Ebor Academy group and I have known Richard Ludlow, the chief executive, for some years.

“I have a lot of respect for Richard – he was my mentor as a newly qualified head teacher in 2012 and his ethos and values chime with my own.”

Mrs Wright graduated from the University of Liverpool and taught in Southport and Liverpool before building up her career at three schools in Leeds. She has been a subject leader in all core subjects and has taught at every age group in primary. She has a passion for literacy, history and PE.

She said: “I’ve always enjoyed sport and leading netball teams to success."

It is the first time she will work in an academy group, but Mrs Wright points out this is the direction education is heading.

She said: “There are benefits and opportunities, good support structures and as a school leader, the chance to influence things.

“As a classroom teacher you can create a vision for what you want that class to achieve. As a head, your influence is wider and gives the opportunity to pursue something you strongly believe in and spread the message further. I’m a great believer in fantastic teaching, happy and secure staff and for children to get the very best deal – a broad, exciting and wide curriculum and a range of opportunities for them to succeed.”

Mrs Wright has two children at university and in her spare time, with her husband, likes to travel.

Emma Davison, chairman of governors at Headlands, said: “We are naturally disappointed that Mrs Wright is leaving Headlands Primary School but appreciate that her new role at Robert Wilkinson Primary Academy provides Mrs Wright with a career development opportunity that is simply too good for her to miss.

"On behalf of our governing body, parents, staff and pupils I would like to recognise and thank Mrs Wright for her hard work and commitment shown to Headlands over the past three and a half years. We wish her well for the future."

Headlands will be advertising for a new head teacher in due course.