School appoints its first woman head

Carol Spillane will take over from Stephen Ball, who has been appointed director of education for a group of academies in the West Midlands.

Mrs Spillane was born in Burnley and is acting headteacher at Our Lady's RC High School in Oldham.

She said: "Calder High is a very good school with a pioneering tradition, excellent staff and talented students. I feel delighted and privileged to be given this opportunity."

Calder High was the first comprehensive to open in Yorkshire in 1950 and has had only five headteachers.

Mr Ball said: "I have known Carol for some time and she has a freshness and enthusiasm that people will find really motivational. I have little doubt she is among the very best of the next generation of secondary heads and I feel I am leaving the school in safe hands."

Mrs Spillane studied history and English literature at St Andrews and holds an MA in modern history. Her teaching career began in Buckinghamshire. She lives in Littleborough with her two teenage sons, Thomas and William.