Students and staff at a Wombourne school have welcomed a new headteacher.

Christine Brown, aged 45, has taken control at Ounsdale High after four years at Abraham Darby Specialist School for the Performing Arts in Telford.

Miss Brown said she was keen to build on Ounsdale’s success and had a number of plans for the future.

“It’s fabulous here at Ounsdale. We have motivated students and talented staff,” she said.

“My main objective now is to make sure Ounsdale is at the forefront of the changes going on in the educational world. In the future, we will be looking at the new Diploma qualification but right now we’re focusing on the sixth form and Key Stages 3 and 4. We will be focusing on learning and teaching and, of course, GCSEs and A-levels but also looking at extra-curricular activities.”

Ounsdale was granted performing arts specialist status in 2003.

Miss Brown, who lives in Telford, said: “We have a lot of creative extra-curricular activities: singing, dancing, acting. These are important as they build pupils’ confidence and can be so beneficial across the board.

“The students here are really energetic and are now looking forward to their production of High School Musical.”

Miss Brown, who began teaching in 1986 and takes over from Paul Jordan, said she was also looking to build on the school’s sporting successes. The future is looking really bright at the moment. Parts of the school, such as the science labs, are up for refurbishment and we’re just going over the plans now.”