IN 2006 Mrs Lesley Hodgson went to Tedburn St Mary School for two terms to cover for maternity leave. She stayed, became senior teacher and, in 2009, acting headteacher.

This term she took over as headteacher at Bow School from Mrs Jo Morgan who still teaches at Bow. Mrs Hodgson said she is giving invaluable support.

At Tedburn Mrs Hodgson led the school through an improved Ofsted inspection. During her first weeks at Bow there was another Ofsted inspection.

She founded the After School Club and a Christmas gift scheme at Tedburn and instituted a birthday assembly for pupils, who were allowed wear what they liked on their birthday.

Mrs Hodgson said Bow is a "lovely school with lovely pupils" and had made her "incredibly welcome".

The school's Learning Council, comprising pupil representatives of each year, issued Mrs Hodgson with their own list of wishes asking their new headteacher to be firm but fair, be approachable, have a good sense of humour, be eco-friendly and appreciate the wonderful facilities at the school, with good ideas for improving learning.

The Learning Council carried out a survey of all the pupils to make sure everyone understood the role of the Council which, Mrs Hodgson said, was a real voice of the pupils. Zoe Burrows is chairman of the Learning Council.

From school in Leeds, Mrs Hodgson gained a BEd 2:1 in Education and History at Leeds Metropolitan University, and a Masters Degree is Psychology of Education at the University of Bristol.

She taught in three schools in Yorkshire before moving to Tedburn. She lives at North Tawton, enjoys walking, usually with her dog, is learning to play the piano, loves gardening, and is a keen knitter.

S Read