THERE'S a new man at the helm of York's smallest secondary school.

Simon Gumn, the former acting head teacher of Burnholme Community College, has been appointed as head teacher at the 427-pupil school.

Mr Gumn said: "The school is in excellent health with an exceptionally talented and committed staff and an outstanding group of students.

"I look forward to leading the school to even greater success and it is my intention to provide the best possible standard of education for our local community.

"Burnholme Community College is a very special place and increasingly I see it as a focus for the community. At Burnholme we firmly believe that every individual should have the opportunity to achieve in as many areas as possible, be that academic, sport, hobby or other interest.

"I am privileged to work with the most talented group of people yet in my career and we will work together to remove any barriers to a child's learning."

Last year, the school celebrated its best-ever results gaining the best contextual value added score of any state secondary in the city - a measure which looks at the progress children make between entering and leaving secondary school.

The school also broke through the 50 per cent barrier of five A*s - at GCSE this year - a percentage that was down in the 20s not so long ago.

Mr Gumn left school at 18 to join the Royal Air Force as an aircraft engineer.

After serving six years he went to university and moved on to work for British Aerospace on the Eurofighter project. He said: "As part of my job, I did a little teaching and found that I thoroughly enjoyed it.

"I returned to university and then I obtained a science teaching position at King James's School, in Knaresborough. I moved to Archbishop Holgate's School as head of the science department before joining Burnholme Community College at Christmas 2004."

Mr Gumn's appointment follows the departure of the former head teacher, Tony Gavin, last year.

He said: "This school is a very special place and it has been an honour to work with the staff and students.

"I believe that people should strive to be the best that they can possibly be.

"My focus has been, and remains, that all young people deserve every opportunity to succeed in all that they do.

"A solid education with exam success is a springboard for a hopefully long, happy and productive life."

Sally Neocosmos, chairman of governors at the college, said: "The governors of Burnholme Community College are delighted to welcome Simon Gumn as head teacher."

"We are impressed by the dedication and commitment he has shown to the college and its ethos and his personal contribution to the school's recent achievements.

"We are confident that Simon will strive to build upon our recent success and continue to ensure that all our students have an education that equips them for adult life in the 21st Century."