YOUNGSTERS at Heworth Primary School started back after Easter with a new head teacher.

David Brown has spent 12 years in teaching at primary schools in York, and said he relished the new challenge.

He qualified as a teacher in 1993 and had his first job at Tang Hall Primary before going to St Lawrence's, and then his last school in Copmanthorpe, where he was deputy head.

Mr Brown said: "So far things have gone better than I could have possibly hoped. The staff, governors and parents have all been extremely supportive."

He follows in the footsteps of Keith Schooling, who was head at Heworth for 12 years and has gone on to teach at a larger primary near Doncaster.

Mr Brown paid tribute to his predecessor and said he was keen to continue the schools good record as well as making strides in ICT and sports. He lives with his wife Sarah and their six-month-old son Archie in Acomb.

Updated: 09:02 Wednesday, April 20, 2005