A headteacher who guided her school through one of the most successful periods in its history has been given a role as the champion for County Durham's teenage students.

Mitch O'Reilly leaves Wolsingham School and Community College tomorrow to join a team seeking to give 14 to 19-year-olds more choice in education.

A Government drive aims to offer each student a curriculum tailored to suit their interests and talents.

Mrs O'Reilly will represent the interests of the thousands of young people in Durham's 36 secondary and 12 special schools.

She leaves Wolsingham on the brink of a new era, with a £1.5m sports hall to be open next year and the prospect of a successful bid for performing arts status in the next few months.

When she arrived ten years ago she found the school carrying a massive deficit and implemented a programme of reform with three years of cost-cutting, including shedding 15 teaching posts.

Mrs O'Reilly said: "I am leaving Wolsingham in a really secure position on the brink of a new five-year programme of development and I feel it is the appropriate time to pass it on."