Holli Hunter, the acting headteacher of Menorah Foundation School in Edgware this term, will become its permanent head in September.

After a rigorous recruitment process, she was the “clear choice” to lead the state-aided Orthodox primary, chair of governors Adam Lobatto told parents.

Mrs Hunter, he added, “truly impressed the panel with her evident passion for educating children, her clear vision to harness excellence in teaching and learning and deliver a broad, varied and enriching curriculum that will undoubtedly drive the school forward even further, building on the strong foundations already begun.”

Since she arrived as deputy head from the Independent Jewish Day School in January last year, she had “become firmly embedded in our school’s journey and has been a driving force for so much positive change”, he said.

She will succeed Karen Kent, who left after five years as head at the end of February to pursue her career with Ofsted.

Judith Caplan, the head of North West London Jewish Day School in Willesden, has been helping Mrs Hunter to steer Menorah Foundation this term as part-time consultant head.