THE winter term sees the start of another era at a West Devon primary school as a new headteacher takes up the reins. Becky Crispin has joined Horrabridge Primary from Longcause School in Plymouth ? and said she is already delighted with her move to West Devon. Mrs Crispin, who is 38, said: ?I think what made me really want to come here was that from my first visit, I got such a positive response from the children ? that?s what really struck me. ?They came across as really lovely and welcoming, very positive. ?It?s a great school, the building is wonderful and one of the other things that attracted me was the opportunity to work with the community here ? for me, that?s a really important thing.? Mrs Crispin?s previous school had a similar number of pupils as Horrabridge, about 85, but is very different. A special school, it caters for pupils aged four to 16 with a range of difficulties, including speech and language problems and autism. ?In terms of developing my skills it was a fantastic opportunity,? said Mrs Crispin. ?It certainly developed me as a teacher incredibly, gave me a new set of skills ? I?m very glad to have been there.? Mrs Crispin initially qualified as a teacher in the expressive arts and has previously taught in schools in Cornwall and Worcestershire. She said she was looking forward to developing Horrabridge School?s central role in the community and making the school ?distinctive and special?. A new council has already been set up, to involve the pupils in the running of their school. ?Already they are coming up with ideas of how they want to move the school forward ? it?s really important the children themselves are involved. Already I?ve been given targets and so have they and already I?m getting feedback that they appreciate one or two things that have been changed,? said Mrs Crispin.
