THE new principal of Warrington Collegiate says she feels privileged to have experienced such an exciting and diverse career.

But, as she steps up to her first headship, Nichola Newton acknowledges the challenges ahead but has confidence that the college on Winwick Road will go from strength to strength.

"We want this college to be an outstanding institution and that's where we are going. We are working very closely with Ofsted to implement our post inspection action plan.

"This college can be and should be outstanding," she said.

As a primary school pupil, Mrs Newton, who is currently deputy principal at Leeds City College, always knew she would grow up to become a teacher - following in her father's footsteps.

The mum of three said: "My father was in education. He started off as an engineer and then worked in higher education so you could say I got my love of teaching from him.

"I think just experiencing education myself and knowing what a really good teacher can do and how they can change people's lives.

"You witness this first-hand as you go through the education system and I really wanted to do something worthwhile. I really do see this career as my vocation.

"Really good teachers do change lives and I wanted to be a part of that."

Mrs Newton, who officially starts her role in the February half term, has worked at a number of institutions up and down the country for the past 20 years.

But her new job will act as something of a homecoming - seeing her return to her home county of Cheshire, which she adds makes it all the more 'special'.

As her first official start day draws closer, Mrs Newton says she wants to make sure all students who study at Warrington Collegiate have access to an education that she would be happy for her children to receive.

She added: "I firmly believe that education is a right not a privilege and I'm a firm believer in the state education being absolutely as good as it can be.

"For every child that comes through this trust or the studio school, for every young person that chooses to study at Warrington Collegiate, for every adult that comes through our doors, I want them to have as good of an experience as I would want for my three girls."