'Sky is the limit' for new Chichester Free School principal

Louise New, who has been assistant head teacher since 2016, will replace interim principal Jenny Clough in September.

Mrs Clough said: “The governors’ interview panel was hugely impressed with Louise’s knowledge, commitment and inspiring vision for the school and was unanimous in its decision to appoint her as principal. I warmly congratulate Louise New on her appointment. She will provide outstanding leadership at what is an exciting time for our school.”

Mrs New said she was ‘absolutely delighted’ to have been appointed. She added: “I have been fortunate enough to work here for a number of years with wonderful children and a team of staff who are dedicated to ensuring all our pupils are happy, successful and achieve their full potential.

"I am looking forward to working with pupils, staff, parents and governors in the next phase of the school’s continued development.”

'I came here for excitement of building something new'

Originally from the Midlands, Mrs New said she went to university and completed her teaching qualifications in York, before moving to the South East where she has been teaching for ten years.

Speaking to the Observer about her new role, Mrs New revealed she first came to Chichester Free School ‘for the excitement of building something new’.

She added: “I was head of English at St Petersfield School before moving to Chichester Free School in 2014 in the same role.

"The school had only been open a few months when I first got my job. and having led a very large English department successfully, the idea of coming in and actually building something from scratch was really exciting. I’ve been here ever since.”

See also: VIDEO: Inside the new Chichester Free School

'Standards in the school remain high and are improving over time' says Ofsted

Having now moved into its permanent site in Hunston Road from September 2018, Mrs New said she was delighted with the school’s progress in education despite being in temporary sites in Vinnetrow Road since 2013.

The area’s only all-through school scored a rating of ‘good’ in all areas and Mrs New said she will now be aiming for outstanding.

The report states that, ‘across the school, the curriculum is based on carefully thought-out aims, which support leaders’ high aspirations for what pupils can and should achieve’.

It added: "Leaders have sustained their high aspirations and moral intent as the school has grown. They have not allowed the challenge of moving to a new site to detract from their core purpose. Consequently, standards in the school remain high and are improving over time."

Outlining where the school needs to improve, the inspector noted: "[It needs to] develop the precision of planning and use of resources, including staff, in early years, so that opportunities for learning are maximised.

"[It also needs to] ensure that current school improvement work leads to pupils experiencing as consistently effective teaching across the wider curriculum, both in primary and secondary phases, as they currently do in their core subjects."

“Ofsted was a really fair reflection of the school. It really celebrated the success we’ve had,” Mrs New said.