A new school headteacher is breaking records and could be the youngest in the country at the age of just 28.

Simon Camby has been appointed the new head teacher at Menston Primary School and he might be a record breaker.

He said: "I think I probably could be the youngest headteacher in the country. I haven't looked in to it though."

Beryl Powell is the chairman of Bradford Primary Head teachers' Association, and represents more than 150 members. He is the youngest head teacher she has heard of

"He could well be the youngest in the country. Twenty-eight is quite young and I haven't heard of anyone younger, but you don't usually ask people's ages.

"It is a tough job for anyone at any age and I am sure he will find his way through."

Many of the teaching bodies were unable to confirm that he was the youngest head in the country because of the Data Protection Act, but they did express surprise at his age and some said 28 was the youngest they had heard of.

Mr Camby, who is originally from Blackpool, replaced former head teacher David Sleightholme, who has left after 11 years to become one of the government's Ofsted inspectors, at the start of January.

At the age of 25, the former Cambridge graduate was prev-iously the deputy head teacher of a primary school with 520 pupils in Cambridgeshire.

In his new role he intends to build on the good work being done at the 360-pupil school.

"As a head teacher, I intend to lead a school where excellence is the driving force," he said.

"I believe passionately that children should only be given the best.

"I will work very closely with staff, governors, parents and children to find out what has gone on before, so that we can build on this to move the school forward.

"I have been warmly welcomed by staff, pupils, governors and parents. All the staff have been extremely supportive and I am confident we will work together as an excellent team to ensure the continued success of the school."

Councillor Dale Smith, Chair-man of Governors at Menston Primary School, believes Mr Camby will take the school to new heights.

"We recognise that during the appointment he had outstanding credentials and we are pleased he accepted the post," he said.

"We feel he will bring enthus-iasm and build on the talented staff that the school has .

"Simon himself recognises the talent in the school and will take it to even greater heights.

"It is exciting news and we will be judging him on his perform-ance rather than by his age.

"The quality of the existing staff is an important factor, it is one of the best schools in the country and now it has one of the youngest head teachers it will go to the very top."

Mr Camby became a teacher at 21 after completing a degree in Education, he studied an MA in Education Leadership and Management followed by the National Professional Qualification for Head Teachers.

He became a deputy head at the age of 25, where he remained for three years until he took up his present position.