Mayfield School has announced the appointment of Sam Kidd as their new headteacher.
She will take up the post in September and succeeds Gillian Temple who is retiring.
Sam is currently executive headteacher of Northside and Dearham primary schools.
She will join at an exciting time for Mayfield as they begin their first full year in the new school building at Campus Whitehaven.
David Batten, chair of Mayfield’s governing body, said: “Sam was the stand-out candidate in a field of extremely high-calibre applicants.
“We’re confident she will bring the perfect blend of skills, experience, and passion to drive us forward.
“Succeeding Gill will be no easy task. We’ve enjoyed tremendous success under her astute leadership, culminating in an ‘Outstanding’ rating from Ofsted in 2018 and the move into our new school.
“Gill will leave at the end of this term after four decades in education, including five years as headteacher at Mayfield. Her contribution to special education in Cumbria is unparalleled and we wish her a long and happy retirement.
“When Sam joins us in September, it will mark a new and exciting era for Mayfield as we strive to further improve the outstanding education we provide for our students.”
Originally from Suffolk, Sam, 53, moved to Cumbria in 1990 to begin her teaching career at Inglewood Infants, in Carlisle.
Since then, she has taught at schools across the county including Orgill School, in Egremont, and Broughton Primary, near Cockermouth.
She is a former headteacher of Whitehaven’s Bransty Primary, and Ashfield Junior School , in Workington. She has also worked for Cumbria County Council as a school improvement officer and is an Ofsted inspector.
Sam said: “I can’t wait to get started. Mayfield plays a uniquely important role in our community.
“I feel a genuine affinity with the school; it’s somewhere I’ve always wanted to work. My family has described me getting the job as the itch that just had to be scratched.
“The achievements here under Gill’s leadership speak for themselves. She will be a tough act to follow but I’m confident I can bring my own style of leadership and help the whole school community to improve and succeed together.
“What is most striking about Mayfield is the incredible feeling of community and togetherness. I want to build on that and ensure we create an environment where everyone is encouraged to be the very best they can be and parents feel fully involved with their children’s education.
“It’s such an exciting time to be joining, with the amazing new building, and one of my priorities will be ensuring that we fully realise the potential of Campus Whitehaven to be a truly transformative asset for the whole community.”
