THE head teacher of an independent Hampshire school that announced its closure due to falling pupil numbers has been appointed to lead a private school in Wiltshire.

Hamish McKeown, currently the head at Woodhill school in Chandler’s Ford, has been confirmed as the new head teacher at Norman Court in West Tytherley – a school that recently reopened after it was also forced to close due to a shortfall in student numbers.

As previously reported by the Daily Echo, bosses at £5,000-a-term school confirmed in March that Woodhill would close at the end of this summer term due to a “difficult economic climate”.

The parents of up to 60 pupils, aged three to 11, have been offered the chance to move their children to the school’s sister establishment at Brook Lane in Botley, where there are plans to expand.

At the time Mr McKeown said the move was made in a bid to ensure a future for the Woodhill School group but added that the “economic climate is difficult” for the independent school sector.

Now he is set to move to Norman Court School and Montessori Day Nursery, where he was previously a pupil and also taught.

The school closed in 2012 when it went into liquidation with debts of £1.2million The Community Interest Company took over the former prep school and reopened last year with an initial intake of Year R and Year 1 pupils. The school which hopes to cater for 300 pupils aged up to 18 currently charges up to £1,000 a month for youngsters to attend.

Mr McKeown said: “'I feel honoured and proud to be involved in rebuilding this fantastic school. I have a lot of history with Norman Court and I am passionate about seeing this beautiful site buzzing with children once again. I am excited about building a thriving school community that genuinely celebrates talent and gives opportunity to children in all areas of the curriculum.'.