PRINCETOWN welcomed its new and enthusiastic head of school at the start of term who ‘is here to stay’.

In her first head of school role, Emma Byrom has hit the ground running at Princetown Primary School since she accepted the role back in March.

No stranger to hard work, Emma has used her passion and determination for teaching to progress to the high ranks of headteacher in just seven years since finishing her studies at Plymouth Marjon University.

Emma said: ‘My plan was to be a head of a school but I never thought I would do it so quickly.

‘I am loving being at this school. I am here to stay and having a constant head at the school is really important for the children.’

Previous Princetown headteacher, Abby Bassett, saw the school through an Ofsted inspection in 2019 where it was graded as ‘good’. The school is supported by An Daras Multi Academy Trust which includes schools at Lew Trenchard, St Stephens at Launceston, Coad’s Green and North Petherwin.

‘This is a huge achievement for the school and I am excited to build on this and to support the school in developing further,’ said Emma, who grew up in Braunton, North Devon.

‘I feel very lucky to be working in a lovely school on Dartmoor.’

Princetown Primary School has a motto — ‘at the heart of the moor; at the heart of the community’ — a motto which Emma will embrace in her new role.

‘I want to keep up with things in the community and get the children involved in the local community in order to give them life skills.’

The school has 36 pupils but can hold 72.

‘My goal is to get the numbers up and encourage more children to the school. It’s a good school. Princetown primary has a fantastic warm, family feel to it. The children, parents and staff are so welcoming and they all work incredibly hard to support each other.’

Once she finished her teaching degree, Emma worked at primary schools in Plymouth schools — Southway, Widewell and as a team lead at Weston Mill.

When she is not working, Emma enjoys walking on Dartmoor, running, horse riding, yoga and seeing her family and friends.

Emma said the transition from being a team lead at Weston Mill to a head of school had been made easy thanks to the staff and families of the school: ‘It has already been a busy few weeks but I am very fortunate to love my job and work with fantastic staff and families.

‘I am looking forward to the years ahead in Princetown.’