COCKENZIE Primary School has been given a lift after securing a new headteacher.

Lynda Banks, currently headteacher at Hilton Primary School, Inverness, is a Commonwealth champion at powerlifting and returned with four medals from the European Championships.

Ms Banks is a multiple British powerlifting champion in the masters class and was third in the World Championships in 2016.  

Current acting headteacher Debbie Mercer will remain in post at Cockenzie until Ms Banks joins.

A date has still to be confirmed.

Councillor Shamin Akhtar, East Lothian Council’s cabinet member for education, said: “I look forward to welcoming Lynda to our learning community.”

The school’s previous headteacher, Jacqui MacKinnon, moved to Law Primary School, North Berwick.

Meanwhile, a new headteacher for Pencaitland Primary School has been confirmed.

Sarah Morgan, current headteacher at Athelstaneford Primary School, will take up the new position at Pencaitland.

Ms Akhtar added: “It’s great that we’re able to retain Sarah’s experience within East Lothian.

“We’ll begin a recruitment campaign for Athelstaneford soon, working in partnership with the parent council.”

A date for the switch has still to be confirmed.