A NEW principal has been appointed at the Quantock Academy and will take up his post on April 1, 2015.

Carl Winch will be taking over from acting principal Rob Benzie, who has filled the post after Ian Bradbury’s abrupt resignation from in May this year.

Mr Winch, who has over 20 years’ experience in education, is at present head teacher of St Mary’s CofE Middle School in Dorset – a post he has held since 2006. While at St Mary’s he has led the school through three successful Ofsted inspections and a National Society inspection which judged the school as ‘consistently outstanding’.

The Quantock Academy is a federation of three West Somerset schools – Danesfield Middle School, St Peter’s First School and Old Cleeve First School.

Mr Winch said: “I have very high expectations and I believe in an inclusive education which meets the needs of all children.

“The academy has been through a difficult time recently, and I want to work closely with parents, staff, governors and the local community to develop a plan to move us forward.

“I want to make the Quantock Academy the first choice school for parents living in our local area.”

Chair of governors Cerys Randell said the governing body was looking forward to working with Mr Winch.

She said: “‘His appointment is not only positive for the Quantock Academy, but also for education as a whole in West Somerset."