KING Harold School has appointed a new headteacher as it continues its efforts to make a break with the past.

The Waltham Abbey School, in Broomstick Hall Road, has announced that Denice Halpin, who is currently deputy head at Mayflower School in Billericay, will take over on January 1, 2010.

King Harold has been without a permanent headteacher since Mike Feehan stepped down in May this year after ten years at the helm.

It had previously been threatened with closure by the Government after poor GCSE scores but has recently become a National Challenge School and a member of The Kemnal Trust which has successfully turned around Debden Park School, in Loughton.

A recent Ofsted report for the school stated: “King Harold is improving quickly... the improvement is due largely to the school’s recent association with the Kemnal Trust and the expertise in school improvement that it has shared and provided.”

Ms Halpin will take over from David Morrish who is currently acting headteacher.

Maryanne Fleming, chairwoman of the recently reconstituted governing body at the school, said: “I look forward to working with Denice to ensure that King Harold School becomes the school of choice for the local communities.

“I am sure that Denice will work effectively with the Kemnal Trust to continue to deliver improvements in Teaching & Learning at the School, and to deliver further improvements in our GCSE results.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank David Morrish for leading the school through the last few months of change.”