THE new headteacher of St Mary's School in Calne is due to give birth to her first child at half term.

Helen Wright, 32, who is the youngest headteacher in the Girls' School Association, has taken over from Carolyn Shaw who left to take charge of Roedean Girls School in Brighton, at the end of last term.

Mrs Wright, who was originally a French and German teacher, said the school has been very supportive of her pregnancy.

She said the governors made a point of saying they believed her efforts to combine her career and family would provide an inspirational role model for the girls.

Mrs Wright said she has not run round school as much as she usually does, but she is confident she can cope.

"The advantage of living on site is you can keep in touch with what's going on," she said.

"It's very important to get to know the baby, but I will be around and I will continue to make decisions."

Mrs Wright, who is eight months pregnant, said one of the advantages of living in the school community will be access to 300 willing baby sitters.

She said she was expecting a boy, but said she had made no decisions about any names yet.

Mrs Wright said she would have the help of her family when the baby is born. Husband Brian, 30, has moved to the town and her mother Pat Kendal, 57, will be moving down from Scotland.