ISAMBARD Community School have officially appointed a new principal after the governors unanimously agreed to choose the acting headteacher for the role.

Last summer, Rachael Mattey, who had been leading the school for eight years, retired from her position, leaving Sue Banks to step into the breach as acting head while the board of governors initiated the recruitment process last month.

In a letter sent to parents this week Kevin Gray, chairman of the governors, announced they had decided to appoint Mrs Banks to the position.

“I am delighted to confirm that as of the start of April 2015 Sue Banks will be the headteacher of Isambard Community School,” he said.

“At the end of last week there were two assessment days, where a number of candidates vying to become Isambard’s next headteacher, undertook a wide range of activities involving students, staff and governors. As a result of this process the selection panel, which included representatives from the Governing Body, Local Authority and an independent former headteacher from Gloucestershire, made the unanimous decision to appoint Sue Banks, Isambard’s current acting headteacher as their nomination for the substantive position.

“I hope that you will join with me in thanking the panel and all those involved in the recruitment process, the local authority for their support of the process and of the school as it has transitioned between headteachers, the other candidates for doing their best (Isambard wishes them luck in their endeavours) and finally in congratulating Mrs Banks on her new position within the school.”

Mrs Banks was delighted to have been appointed to the role. She said: “I am delighted to have been successfully appointed as headteacher of Isambard Community School. I am passionate about Isambard and its students, past, present and future, and am excited about leading the school on the next leg of its journey.”

Last month the school announced intentions to start actively recruiting for the role during March, which is considered to be the best time of the year to recruit for new heads.

In a statement posted on the school’s Facebook page last week, a spokesman from the school said: “As you may be aware our headteacher for the last eight years retired at the end of the last school year.

Since September, Mrs Banks has been promoted to acting headteacher while the governors go through the process of recruiting a new headteacher.

“At the time the governors made the decision to not move into recruitment immediately, the nature of education means that staff recruitment is very seasonal (there are good and bad times to recruit).

“The governors wanted to ensure that the school was able to attract the best range of candidates.”