ST Swithun’s Junior School, near Alresford, has announced the appointment of Rebecca Lyons as its new headteacher with effect from the beginning of the summer term next year.

Miss Lyons has been the deputy headteacher at Stroud King Edward VI Preparatory School since 2013. As well as the day-to-day management at Stroud, she has been responsible for pastoral care and has played a significant role in the strategic development of the school.

She was director of studies at West Hill Park School from 2011-13, and head of English at Stroud from 2007-11. Prior to that, she taught across the primary age range in both the maintained sector and internationally from 1997.

As well as a first-class degree from the University of Northumbria and a PGCE, Miss Lyons holds an MBA from UCL. She sits on the governing body of a local state junior school and has recently become an inspector for the Independent Schools Inspectorate.

Miss Lyons lives in the New Forest with her partner Trevor, a consultant gastroenterologist at Southampton General Hospital, and her two 10-year-old stepsons.

There was a strong field from which to choose, and senior school headteacher and acting head Jane Gandee, and the school council are “delighted” with the appointment of Miss Lyons.

Miss Lyons said: “It is a great honour to be joining a school with such a strong reputation, and an ethos that resonates with my core belief – that as well as striving for academic excellence, the broad talents of all children must be nurtured and celebrated.

“I was immediately struck by the warmth of relationships between children and staff at St Swithun’s, and I look forward to working with staff to build on the considerable strengths of the junior school in the coming months.”