IT'S a case of back to the old school for Pam Wellington, who has taken over the leadership of a school where she was a former teacher.

Generating an environment of enthusiastic learning is top of the agenda for Mrs Wellington, who has begun the new year by taking on the role of headteacher at Kempshott Junior School, in Old Down Close, Kempshott, Basingstoke.

Mrs Wellington has returned to take the helm at the school where she previously worked as a teacher from 1987 to 1996.

She rejoined the school when the new term started after Christmas, and is looking forward to her top role.

After a week in the job, Mrs Wellington, who lives in Kempshott, said: "It's going very well. I set myself a target in the first week to speak to every child and I think I achieved about 90 per cent of that. Considering there are 370 children here, that wasn't bad.

"I had a lovely warm welcome from the children and the staff, but one of the things that has been unusual for me is that everyone seems to know me, whether it's because I live in the area or because I taught their uncle or someone they know."

Between leaving her job as teacher at Kempshott and returning as headteacher, Mrs Wellington has worked as deputy headteacher at St Mark's C of E Primary School, in Danebury Road, Hatch Warren, Basingstoke, and then as headteacher at Selbourne C of E Primary School, near Alton.

One of her key goals for Kempshott Junior School is to incite enthusiasm in the pupils.

She said: "What I most want is for the children to come to school enthusiastically and I want them to be excited about learning."

First published: Thursday, January 19, 2006