A HAMPSHIRE college is preparing to welcome a new headteacher.

Ben Rule will be the new headteacher at Wyvern College, starting from September.

This comes after the college announced that current headteacher Alan Newton is retiring at the end of the summer term after 10 years.

Mr Rule, who has been teaching for 23 years, is currently deputy headteacher for curriculum, teaching and learning at Ringwood School.

Talking about his plans for Wyvern College, he said: “Building on a very strong position, I would like to secure further improvements in exam results.

“There are outstanding results for some students and outstanding results in some subjects. I want to see that standard replicated across all subjects and students.”

He said he wants to achieve outstanding results while also safeguarding students’ wellbeing and staff’s work-life balance.

And added: “I would like to expand our Community Enterprise activities, ensuring that we align the core business of the school with services for our community.”

He said the new challenges he will have to face include meeting the needs of students while funding continue to fall.

“Additionally, there has been an alarming increase in teenage mental health problems in the last decade.

“Our challenge is to work with parents, students and other agencies to reduce the number and seriousness of these problems,” he said.

He also praised the work done by the staff at Wyvern.

As previously reported, Ofsted have rated the school as good, highlighting the achievement of students.

Mr Rule said: “I was struck by the wealth of opportunities for students to discover where their talents lie and to achieve success.

“Few schools have been able to sustain this level of opportunity.”