NEW head teacher at Dunster First School, Naomi Philp, is settling into her role having succeeded long-serving head Peter Hoyland.

Naomiwho lives in Holford with husband Steve and their two children Xabien, spoke to our reporter Sue Mitchinson, saying: “I was absolutely over the moon when I got the post and I’ve been welcomed so kindly by people who worked with Peter all those years.

“He prepared it all very well, it’s a very organised school and we are all in a really good place with a supportive community and lovely children who are keen to learn.”

The school, she believes, is in a place where it could lead the way in education.

“There are a lot of developments going on in education and Dunster is well placed to lead.

“We are part of the Moorland Federation (with Cutcombe, Exford, St Dubricius Porlock and Timberscombe) and that’s a great network – we all want the best for the children, we keep coming back to this so that we do everything for the right reason,” she said.

“As a new head it also means I have a group to go to and can make sure I’m not missing anything.”

Naomi’s philosophy is that if teachers can find something where a child feels in his or her element – fencing, art, writing – the confidence they get from that filters into everything.

“Our local area is stunning, magical. We are so lucky with the school and experience it can offer children, and I want to work on bringing more and more in so that we enrich the curriculum to provide that something.”

A theme she is also particularly keen to promote is kindness.

“People are proud of our children and their manners and this is all about building on that theme.

“So we talk a lot about kindness and build it into the weekly awards which children nominate each other for – it gets into their language and becomes internalised.”

Full feature in the Free Press