But speaking to the Observer before Wednesday's visit by Ofsted inspectors, she was upbeat about the prospect despite the school this year recording some of the worst GCSE results in the county.

Just 15 per cent of pupils gained five A* - C GCSEs including English and maths but Mrs Phillips vowed that these figures will meet the Government's minimum target of 30 per cent in 2008.

Coming to Hillcrest during a period of radical upheaval in Hastings' secondary school education, she is supportive of the new changes involving the Federation of Hillcrest with Filsham Valley and The Grove under the leadership of education improvement company Ninestiles Plus headed by Sir Dexter Hutt.

"I'm absolutely confident that the work of the Federation and my leadership will bring about the 30 per cent minimum target, at least," she said.

"Crucial to both the raising of standards and personal development of youngsters is the work of the Foundation and I welcome it.

"The more expertise and resources and greater learning we can get from each other, the better. I can already see how the youngsters are benefiting from expertise from other schools and Ninestiles Plus.
"I'm confident the school will be successful under the Federation relationship.

"I have entered this post in the understanding there is an executive leader and I'm head of the school.

"To me that's an opportunity, not a threat and it's a chance to be a learner."

She described the proposal to close the three Federation schools and replace them with two academies in Hastings in 2011 as "a great investment for youngsters".

When mother-of-three Mrs Phillips, who lives in Tunbridge Wells, started as head last Monday after former headteacher Lyndsay Hart's sudden departure, it was not her first stint working at Hillcrest.
Between 2002-6 she worked for East Sussex's School Improvement Services as a teaching and learning consultant and this role included a spell working at Hillcrest where she was deployed as an assistant deputy head.

"I absolutely loved it here," she said. "I thoroughly enjoyed the staff and students and felt the school had enormous potential. During that time, I became convinced I wanted to be a headteacher as that was the way to make the greatest difference for the most youngsters."
In autumn 2006 Mrs Phillips began a trainee headteacher programme, working at a Tower Hamlets school for a year.

After 12 months there, she was taken on as an associate headteacher where she describes her role as "effectively running the school operationally and sharing strategic decision-making".
She had been hoping to secure a headteacher position by this coming January so was "delighted" when she was offered the Hillcrest post to run for three years.

Extra staff being employed at the Tower Hamlets school ensured she was able to start at Hillcrest almost straight away.
Mrs Phillips, who gained an MA in Education from the University of Brighton in February, said she has been overwhelmed by the warm welcome she has received from staff and students.

"The youngsters here are delightful young people. I want to work in this environment and be part of the regeneration of Hastings," she said, adding that staff were the school's "greatest resource".

Among her aims is to introduce a broader range of assessment for pupils including practical tests, rather than just written exams.
Mrs Phillips, 53, grew up in Kent and started her career as a science teacher in Oxfordshire before moving to Milton Keynes.

She later returned to Kent where she became an advanced skills teacher ahead of joining East Sussex's School Improvement Services.
Becoming the head of a school with 673 students, 40 teachers and an additional 40 adult support staff is "a dream come true" for Mrs Phillips.

"I'm absolutely thrilled to have this chance," she said.
"It is a challenge and I hope to rise that challenge and bring a sense of stability."

The results of this week's Ofsted inspection will be published in the coming months.