Biddulph High School has announced its new head teacher after it was announced that the school's current head teacher will be leaving at the end of the calendar year.

Elizabeth Robinson will be joining the school from St Margaret Ward Catholic Academy, and will take over from current head teacher Simon Ascroft from 1st January 2021.

Mr Ascroft had originally been due to leave his role at the end of the 2019-2020 academic year, but delayed his departure in order to help the school through the Coronavirus pandemic.

In a letter to parents, Mr Ascroft said that Mrs Robinson, who is already a governor at Biddulph High School, had been hired following "a rigorous selection process".

He said: "Following a rigorous selection process and interviews on 21st and 22nd September 2020, on behalf of the Potteries Educational Trust I am delighted to announce the appointment of our new permanent Headteacher, Mrs Elizabeth Robinson, who will take up her post from 1st January 2021.

"Mrs Robinson is joining us from St Margaret Ward Catholic Academy. She has been a governor at Biddulph High School since 2017 and for this reason, she already knows the school extremely well.

"Mrs Robinson has exceptional ability and is both well qualified and experienced.

"She is fully committed to providing the best education possible for our students, as well as to the continued development and success of our school.

"Indeed, these are all the qualities and characteristics that we would want from our Headteacher.

He added: "I am sure that you will join me in congratulating her on her appointment.

"I am confident that you will support her as she leads the school into a new and exciting future."