WHETHER everyone would accept the position of headteacher at a school earmarked for closure is open to debate, but Susan Lowry has such faith in Eastnor Parochial's value to the community that she accepted without a moment's doubt.

"I really believe we can do great things here, and I have got great hopes for the future," she said. "I'm really pleased to be appointed head. I believe in this school, and that's why I took the position even though the school was in a questionable position at the time."

Miss Lowry received the first good news of her short tenure on Monday with the recall of Herefordshire Council's education review.

"Initially our reaction was one of elation, but this isn't at all over," she said. "We just feel that anything could happen now. The pressure has been immense on everybody, and now we have to wait until September it feels as if that pressure will stay in place until then.

"It is a better situation than a week ago. I think there is a realisation that the plans are not manageable in their present form, and will have to go back to the drawing board."