KATE Curtis is very passionate about Talbot Combined School and it is definitely catching.

The new head of the bright and spacious Wallisdown school is determined to make it one of the best and only a fool would doubt she means business.

The mum-of-two started her new job in September and already Ofsted inspectors have been so impressed they have taken it out of special measures and offered high praise in a recently-published report.

Delighted as she is with its new status, Kate has no plans to take her foot off the pedal and is determined to attract more pupils to the currently under-subscribed school.

Reception is currently only half full but applications for September have doubled and facilites at the Talbot Drive school can’t be faulted. Airy and colourful classrooms coupled with a huge outdoor space, make it a welcoming learning environment and teaching has been overhauled to bring it up to scratch.

“This is a school with enormous potential and fabulous facilities” said Kate, previously head of Wimborne First School. “The building is huge and beautifully-equipped and there is enough space for the foreseeable future.”

Current pupils range in age from four to 12 but Year 7 will be removed this year due to the change to the age of transfer in Poole and it will become a primary school.

But it will continue to grow because it changed to three forms of entry in September last year, compared to two in previous years.

Kate has high praise for both pupils and staff at the school.

She said: “The children here are very special, they are keen to learn and it is a joy to teach them. They deserve a fantastic education and I believe that’s what they get here.”

Kate said her main priority when she joined the school in September was to improve teaching and added: “We needed to make sure children are making progress quickly and the staff have been fantastic.”

Events planned this term include Olympic sports day celebrations and a jubilee-themed summer fair.

Opportunities for children to take part in more sports and music-based activities are also being explored.

“It is my aim for more parents to choose this school. I understand why some went elsewhere when we were in special measures but I hope they will now see this is a fantastic school – we are definitely growing.”