ALASTAIR Ponsford, the new headteacher at Luckington School, said he is looking forward to the challenges ahead.

Mr Ponsford, 35, who replaced previous incumbent Haydn Reynolds after Christmas, said he had enjoyed his first week with the school's 40 children.

It his first time as a headteacher and he admitted to a few flutters on his first day.

He said: "I was a little bit nervous and excited before I started. It has been a challenging week, a very enjoyable one. The kids have been absolutely brilliant."

The major difference from his previous job as a deputy head of a 270-pupil school in Woking, Surrey, for five years, was the size.

But Mr Ponsford said he knew the area well after studying at Bath Spa College between 1986 and 1990.

He said: "The children work in a very small environment which is a fantastic experience for them."

One of his aims during the coming year would be to ensure the proposed building of the new school hall during the autumn term goes smoothly.

He added that he was looking at trying to give the children a varied learning experience.

Chairman of the school governors Lesley Bennett said the school was fortunate to get a young headteacher.

She said: "We are very lucky to have a young, enthusiastic teacher with lots of plans to build on the considerable strengths of the school."