A NEW headteacher has been appointed for an independent school near Ringwood.

The governors of Moyles Court School have announced the appointment of Richard Milner-Smith with effect from September.

Mr Milner-Smith has been deputy head at Moyles Court for three years and will take over the leadership of the school following Greg Meakin’s move on to a leadership position with the GEMS Education group, at Sherfield School in north-east Hampshire.

He said: “I am thrilled, delighted and privileged to be offered this opportunity to lead and continue developing Moyles Court School.

“It is a school which has the children at the heart of all that it does and I look forward with excitement to building on its past successes and leading the school forward.”

Mr Meakin said: “Moyles Court is a wonderful school where my children have had a fantastic start to their education. The teachers and support staff are extremely talented and committed.

“It has been such a pleasure to be part of the school’s success with them and I thank the pupils and wonderful body of parents for their whole-hearted support throughout.”