A NEW headteacher has taken up her place at the helm of one of Northallerton's biggest schools.

Mother-of-two Susan Gill is settling in at Broomfield School, which has 238 children aged from four to 11.

"I'm really enjoying being here at Broomfield - the children are lovely and it's a very happy school," she said.

"I've found the parents, governors and staff hugely supportive, which makes the job so much easier."

Chairman of the governors Roy Slater said: "With no exaggeration, the governors were delighted to be able to appoint Mrs Gill as their new headteacher.

"Having worked with her since the appointment, and into the new school year, we are quite convinced that we made the right decision.

"Mrs Gill has already made her mark with children, parents, staff and governors alike and we are looking forward to working with her to make the school better than ever."

Mrs Gill, aged 49, has been a teacher for 28 years. She began her career in the middle and secondary schools sector, but switched to primary education 20 years ago.

For the last six years she was head of Fountains CE Primary, a 97-pupil school in Grantley, near Ripon.

Mrs Gill replaces Heather Thom, who led Broomfield for 21 years but sadly died after a short illness in February.