TINA Graham has been appointed the new principal of Dartmouth Academy. The announcement was made on Tuesday following a selection process in which the post was advertised nationally. A shortlist of candidates were interviewed by members of the Interim Advisory Committee, two of whom are parents, and members of the ASW Board. The decision to appoint Mrs Graham, who has been acting principal since Sept­ember, was unanimous. Committee chairman Bob Mitchell said: ‘Tina will be an outstanding principal of the academy. ‘She has a very clear vision of what needs to be done, and the ability to take the staff, students and parents with her. ‘People appreciate her clarity and her relentless passion for having high expectations of each and every student and we have been delighted to welcome a further 24 students across the academy in addition to the new intake since September. ‘We believe that Dartmouth Academy has a long and bright future under her leadership.’ Mrs Graham started her career as a geography teacher in Suffolk in September 1997 before coming to work at Kingsbridge Comm­unity College as assistant head of geography in 1999. She was appointed head of geography and then assistant principal and head of sixth form. Under her leadership, numbers in the sixth form strongly grew and results improved. Born in North Devon where her father was a builder and her mother a care assistant, Mrs Graham now lives in the South Hams with her husband and their three children who attend local primary schools. She said: ‘I am absolutely thrilled by this appointment. ‘I believe passionately that every child deserves the very best education, whatever their starting point and wherever they live, so that they achieve their own personal best. ‘I have been enormously impressed by the willingness of the Dartmouth staff to go the extra mile for the students, and by the strong support for the academy from parents and the local community. ‘I am looking forward to building on these foundations as we take the academy on the journey towards becoming outstanding.’