IT may be one of the smallest schools in Hampshire, but the new head teacher believes it has great potential.

Michelle Hale, who has just taken over at Manor Church of England School in Holbury, is determined to see the site achieve the highest rating awarded by inspectors.

The school, which has just 66 pupils, was rated “good” by the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted) after being inspected last year.

But Mrs Hale wants to see the description upgraded to “outstanding”.

The 38-year-old mum of one entered the teaching profession in the late 1990s and taught at St Luke’s School, Sway, where she became deputy head teacher, before landing her current job.

She said: “I felt I could make a difference. I wanted to build on the success achieved by my predecessor, Gill Hamer, who retired last year.

“Manor Church of England is very welcoming, with very happy pupils.

“It’s a quite a small school but has a very nurturing environment. The staff all know the children really well.”