CHILDREN at Hollycombe Primary celebrated their harvest assembly with new headteacher Louise Pearce, who took over in September from Tamsin Austoni, who moved on after more than five years.

Summer class pupils performed a food-related educational song, entitled Brown Bread, while the youngest children from Spring class stole the show with their rendition of the story of ‘Chicken Licken’.

Children from Winter class demonstrated harvest celebrations that were held by the Egyptians in 1700BC while pupils from Autumn class gave a presentation on the benefits of Fair Trade, which revealed more than five billion bananas are consumed in Great Britain alone each year.

The new headteacher praised Hollycombe Primary calling it a “lovely, child-focused school in a wonderful location”.

She said: “Everyone in the school, which has a dedicated team of staff, is determined for every child to be happy, to make firm friendships, and achieve high standards in their work.

“Pupils and families at Hollycombe have been very generous with their harvest donations that will be used by the Midhurst Food Bank. All the classes’ presentations were wonderful – full of music, poetry, acting and story-telling. We were all so proud of them.”

Mrs Pearce qualified as a teacher in 1992 and has worked in London and Hampshire schools – first as a teacher, then as a deputy head, and subsequently in charge of two other schools.

She also worked for Ofsted as a chief inspector, before returning to the classroom for two years teaching reception and year one children.

She has lived in Liss for nearly 20 years, and is married to a musician with three children, who all attended state schools locally. In her spare time she loves reading and choral singing, and is learning to play the flute again.

Mrs Austoni is taking a break from headship – her next role is in the inspection and advisory service, where she will be visiting many different schools.