Hannah Martin, the deputy head of Clore Shalom School, has been appointed as the new headteacher of Etz Chaim in Mill Hill.

She will take up the post at the Orthodox primary, one of London’s first free schools which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, at the beginning of next term.

Etz Chaim’s chair of governors, Marc Meyer, said, “We are thrilled to be able to appoint an experienced school leader to become our new headteacher to lead us into our second decade. Hannah impressed us with her clear passion for supporting children and staff to be the best they can be, both educationally and personally.”

She joined Clore Shalom in 2017, where she was also inclusion leader and part of a new senior leadership team installed after Ofsted said the school “requires improvement”; two years later it was upgraded to “good”. Before that, she was with Hertsmere Jewish Primary School in Radlett for 12 years.

She said she was delighted about her new role. “I have already heard lovely things about the parent body, children and staff and am very much looking forward to getting to know everyone and becoming part of their school community.”

Mr Meyer thanked outgoing head Yvonne Baron for “her extraordinary contribution sustained over 10 years, in building a successful Jewish prima