THE new head teacher at Chard’s Avishayes Primary School says her aim is to make the school “outstanding” in the next four years.

Sandra Leggett joins the school, off Fairway Rise, from Whipton Barton Junior School, Exeter, where she was head for nine years.

In OFSTED’s report last May, inspectors said the school required improvement, but Mrs Leggett believes they can move forward to become ‘good’ overall with outstanding behaviour and safety at their next inspection, which is due in the summer next year, and then ‘outstanding’ by 2018.

“There’s a lot of potential at Avishayes, and I’m looking forward to working with the staff, governors and parents to move the school forward,”

she said.

“I have experience working in challenging circumstances, and I saw this as a great opportunity to raise the standards and make a real difference.

“There have been good improvements already since the last OFSTED report with our aim being to ensure that we provide an inspiring curriculum with excellent teaching and learning that give children the chance to achieve their potential.”

Mrs Leggett takes over from Nic Gordon, and her aims are for children to be happy and challenged, but to improve standards in the core areas of literacy and numeracy.

She said: “We have some excellent facilities here, like the forest school and the Early Years centre, with children getting to go on residential trips during their time at Avishayes.

“I want to equip them for their learning now and for the future because we’re all lifelong learners.

“I want children to use our outdoor areas and be inspired in their wider learning.”