SEVERAL Darlington schools will be going into the new term next week with new headteachers.

Four out of the town's seven secondary schools and four primary schools have all had changes at the top within the past few months.

At Longfield Comprehensive, the new headteacher is Keith Cotgrave, replacing Mark Parr, who left due to ill health.

Hummersknott School and Language College has appointed Pat Howarth, after the retirement of headteacher David Henderson, and Haughton Comprehensive has had Mike Davison in charge since April after Sheila Potter moved on.

Karen Pemberton, who was the deputy headteacher at Eastbourne Comprehensive, is the acting temporary head after Richard Appleton left last October.

North Road Primary School has David Ackroyd, who is a temporary appointment seconded from Whinfield Junior School after the retirement of headteacher Richard Wilde.

At Whinfield, deputy headteacher Jill Wood is acting as temporary head in the absence of Mr Ackroyd and, at Reid Street Primary, Paul Rattigan steps in following the retirement of Anne Ferguson.

Meanwhile, at Corporation Road School, the nursery, infant and junior school amalgamated at Easter, and Joyce Chandler was appointed headteacher of the school.