THE new headteacher of a Bramley school, which has faced a turbulent few years, has pledged to build on recent improvements.

Andy Higgs said he was excited about what the future holds after taking the top job at Bramley C of E Primary School, in Bramley Lane.

The school has faced some tough challenges in recent years, culminating in January 2013 when it was put into special measures and graded ‘inadequate’ by Ofsted. Former headteacher Ann Berresford quit after the rating.

Under interim headteacher Lyn Downes the school made improvements and came out of special measures. It is currently rated as ‘requires improvement’.

Mr Higgs, who was previously head of Lambourn C of E Primary School in West Berkshire, said he hopes to build on the recent improvements.

He said: “I want this school to be ‘outstanding’ and I’m confident that we will be able to achieve that.

“I am very lucky to have the support of the parents, the staff and the governors; it is a real team effort.

“The kids are fantastic, although I find that they are great wherever you go.”

He said that his faith is very important to him, and acts as the bedrock for how the school operates.

He said: “We are a Church of England School and that is key to the way in which we do things.”

The numbers of pupils at the school is set to rise in the next few years, due to a rising local population.

As reported in The Gazette last year, five new classrooms were built and the existing assembly hall expanded to accommodate 105 extra pupils.

Mr Higgs said: “There is obviously a need for more school places and it’s good that we are able to meet that demand.

“The number of pupils will rise with each intake for a few years and I’m confident that we have the facilities to deal with this.”