A NEW head teacher has been appointed at a top York state secondary school.

Steve Lewis will become the new head at Fulford School as of September this year and the sixth head teacher in the school’s history.

In November The Press reported that Lorna Savage, who has been head since 2013, is set to retire this summer after 23 years teaching at the school.

In a letter to parents her predecessor and the current chairman of governors, Steve Smith said the appointment followed “a highly testing two day selection process”.

Mrs Savage will remain as CEO of the South York Multi Academy Trust (SYMAT), of which Fulford was a founder member, for between 12-18 months in order to allow Mr Lewis to establish himself fully at Fulford.

GALLERY OF OLD PHOTOS FROM FULFORD SCHOOL

Mr Smith said: “Mr Lewis is a highly experienced executive head who has led his current school, Rushcliffe in Nottinghamshire, to gain outstanding Ofsted status in 2014 in addition to his school gaining the world class status award following on from this.

“Mr Lewis was also awarded Nottinghamshire head teacher of the year. Having spent considerable time in Mr Lewis’s company, I am genuinely delighted in this appointment.”

Mrs Savage said: "Steve is an exceptional leader who embodies the values of our school and our Trust. He will take Fulford School and the South York MAT from strength to strength and will secure their ongoing improvement. I am really privileged and delighted to have the opportunity to work alongside Steve until he assumes the full combined HT/CEO role.

"As someone who dearly loves Fulford School and who has spent much of their working life here, Steve totally epitomises what I would like my successor to be.

"I wish both Steve and all those associated with the school and the South York MAT, every success and happiness at the start of this new chapter in our shared history."

Mr Lewis said: "I am delighted to have been appointed to the post of head teacher of Fulford School and CEO designate of the South York Multi Academy Trust. I have been most impressed with the school, the warmth and commitment of both staff and pupils to be the best they possibly can be shines through.

"I look forward to working with Lorna to further develop the excellence of Fulford School and our partners within the South York Multi Academy Trust. I am committed to enhancing the educational opportunities for all who go to our schools and creating an exciting, forward thinking MAT which will have a transformational effect for our wider community. I look forward to getting to know pupils, staff and of course parents and carers. These are exciting times for our MAT.

"The schools within our MAT have a proud and successful traditional built on core values and preparing our young people to engage fully in society. We will build on this and seek to work collaboratively with other like minded schools for the good of all."

Last year The Press reported that Fulford won The Sunday Times North of England State Secondary School of the Year accolade, and ranked at number four on the list of top 10 state secondary schools in the North.