MEET Mark Griffin – the new head teacher at Kingsmead Community School.

Mr Griffin took over from Geoff Tinker this month after the latter stepped down from his post following a successful 11 years.

The new head said: “Geoff has done a tremendous job at the school and will be a very hard act to follow

“Kingsmead was and is a very good school and I am delighted to be joining a dedicated staff and I’m very much looking forward to working with the excellent student body at the school.”

Mr Griffin, 52, has been a teacher for 30 years and previously taught at the school as a drama teacher between 1992 and 1997.

Recalling his time there, he added: “I had a great time and have some very fond memories of the place.

“However, the school has changed enormously in line with the differing expectations of successive governments and the developing needs of students. I am not returning to the same school I left a decade and a half ago.”