A new chair of governors at a High Wycombe school has vowed to uphold the school’s “legacy of care and support” for children of all-abilities.

Sue Jollands took over from Chris Turner as chair of governors at The Highcrest Academy at the start of the academic year and has just celebrated her first term.

Ms Jollands, from High Wycombe, said: “Highcrest is a very good school. There’s a lot of care and a lot of support for children of all abilities. It is a unique feature of the school and was one of the reasons I chose it for my own child.

“The aim will be to keep Chris’ legacy and build on his achievements. These are quite difficult times for all schools financially, but I am hoping I can use my experience to help Highcrest through this period.”

Ms Jollands was formerly a local government regeneration officer in London, tasked with fighting deprivation.

She added: “My work, being responsible government funding, working with a range of businesses and organisations to bring about improvements and engaging the community, is very relevant now and I hope to encourage others to become governors of The Highcrest Academy.

“It’s a big responsibility being chair of governors, but I knew what I was letting myself in for and there is a real sense of achievement in working with staff to develop the school into everything we know it can be.”

She now works in scientific marketing but is known in the area as a volunteer volleyball coach at schools including Highcrest.

She joined Highcrest as a governor two-and-a-half years ago and made a quick impression on the then chair, Chris Turner, who was “instrumental” in the school’s ‘good’ Ofsted rating two years ago.

He said: “I am proud of what the school has achieved in the time I have been associated with it.

“Highcrest is a real family. It is still very much a community school and it still has that feel today.”