STARTING your first day at a new school can be daunting for anyone, even when you're the headteacher.

And the task for Veronica Wallace at Staples Road Junior and Infant Schools is harder than most- she is the first ever joint headteacher for the schools.

In her first year, Miss Wallace, 45, will oversee the merger of the two schools to form Staples Road Primary School and has high hopes for her role.

She said: “The challenge is creating a curriculum which is consistent throughout the school. They are large challenges, but they are good challenges. The challenges which can be very wearing are obviously creating a central entrance, a central staff room and a central office. Anything to do with building work and ICT can prove quite tedious.”

Originally from Derry, Northern Ireland, Miss Wallace has been a teacher since 1988 when she started her career in Tower Hamlets, London.

She has form in merging schools as in her last job she oversaw an amalgamation of two schools to form Thundersley Primary School, and believes firmly in the primary school model.

She said: “You have a different relationship with the child. Everyone sees the child at the start of the school and everyone sees them at the end.

“You can really see the benefit to the child, and things flow much more easily, steadily and progressively. There's no more a big jump between years 2, 3, and 4, because it becomes one school with one free range.

“I think Staples Road has the potential to be an outstanding school and Staples Road Primary can be that.”

Q&A

What is you earliest memory?

My self and my twin sister were watching a thunderstorm, and I remember my mother and father saying it wasn't anything to worry about

What is your favourite music?

I love all sorts of music from classical to very light country.

What is your favourite film?

I think, like half the world, something like Mamma Mia. You can watch it again and again for the feel good factor

What would you take to a desert island?

A phone to ask for help and a satellite dish

What's your most embarrassing moment?

I once went to China on an educational visit, and as part of the thank you we were taken to a bath house. There's nothing more disconcerting than being at a professional meeting in your swimwear

What would your epitaph be?

Hopefully that I always put children first and they were my driver, and I was fair and fun