Primary school's new headteacher

Dallington Primary School new headteacher Shirley Frankis said: 'Children, parents and staff have all been tremendously welcoming and I'm looking forward to making a good school even better. We've got impressive results here and the children have many exciting opportunities.'

'Pupils here are well aware that they live in an officially-designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and even at this age they are looking to nurture and explore it.'

The new head, previously an advisory teacher for mathematics, will continue to do some teaching.

She came to teaching late after her own children had started school and followed a four-year degree course in education at Brighton University. She has two boys in their twenties '“ Christopher and Oliver Stanyard.

Pupils at Dallington come from a rural area that includes Rushlake Green, Bodle Street Green and Brightling. They generally move on to Heathfield Community College with a few opting for Claverham Community College in Battle.

Dallington Primary is a small school of 106 children across four classes.

Despite its limited size Dallington offers many extra-curricular activities including painting, modelling and dance. It is supported in these areas by strong links with Heathfield Community College which specialises in the arts.

She has been acting headteacher at Punnetts Town Primary since September and previously was deputy head at Grovelands Primary in Hailsham.

She lives in Seaford.