Melanie Lee, the deputy head of Yavneh College in Borehamwood, has been appointed the new headteacher of JCoSS in East Barnet.

She will be the first female head to lead the cross-communal school, succeeding Patrick Moriarty, who has been at the helm for 10 years.

Dr Lee, who has a doctorate in science, will join the school for the start of the spring term in January.

Governors say they are excited by the appointment and confident of the school’s success under her “dynamic leadership”.

JCoSS said for the past year she has been “on a sabbatical which has enriched her substantial experience with insights into teaching, learning and curriculum from a range of schools across the country”.