THE new headteacher at King Harold School has spoken of her high expectations for improvement.

Denice Halpin took over at the Waltham Abbey school, on January 1, this year, after moving from Mayflower School in Billericay.

King Harold, in Broomstick Hall Road, has received criticism in recent years for poor attainment levels, but Mrs Halpin said she was confident her new employer would become “a leading school in the area.”

She said: “The 2009 GCSE results were the best in the school’s history and a recent Ofsted report confirmed that King Harold School is improving quickly and has the capacity for even greater success.

“I am thrilled to be a part of the school as it goes from strength to strength and am excited at the challenges that lay ahead.

“My primary focus is on raising standards of teaching and learning throughout the school and I have high expectations of both staff and students.”

King Harold recently became a member of The Kemnal Trust which has successfully turned around Debden Park High School, in Loughton.

Mrs Halpin said: “I am looking forward to working with staff, parents, governors and the Kemnal Trust to achieve the very best for all our students.”