A SCHOOL near York has welcomed the appointment of a new head teacher.

Sue Baillie has been announced as the new head for Queen Margaret’s School from next year.

Mrs Baillie will take the reigns at the private girl's school from September 2019 after the current head teacher, Jessica Miles announced that she will be leaving the school at the end of the Easter half term.

Senior deputy head, Lars Fox will be acting head for the summer term.

Mrs Baillie began her twenty-seven year career in the North, at Barnard School and has taught in the region ever since.

For the last seven years she has been pastoral director at Newcastle Royal Grammar School and previously was deputy head at Kimbolton School.

Mrs Baillie specialises in history and politics and will be taking several classes for students as head teacher, at the school at Escrick.

Caroline Bayliss, Chairman of Governors, said: ‘Selected from an extremely impressive field of candidates, Sue Baillie is hugely qualified to lead Queen Margaret’s.

Sue has an incisive mind and great vision, coupled with a deep empathy for the schools values and real warmth of personality.

The Governors and I are delighted in the appointment and confident Sue will be an exceptional leader for Queen Margaret’s.”

Mrs Baillie will spend the next few months getting to know the school.

She said: “I am hugely excited and immensely privileged to have been appointed as Queen Margaret’s next head.

“It is demonstrably a very special place and I felt an affinity with its values from my first visit.

“I have been overwhelmed by the kindness and openness of girls and staff alike and look forward to building on the firm foundations laid by Jessica Miles.”