THE first head teacher of York's newest secondary special school was named today.

George Gilmore will lead the teaching team at Applefields School, in Burnholme, from September 2004.

He has been head teacher of Galtres School - which will close when Applefields opens - since 1992.

Married with two children, Mr Gilmore has been committed to working with adults and children with learning difficulties since graduating from Durham in 1976, and believes the establishment of two new special schools in York provides an exciting opportunity to build upon the success of the existing special needs schools.

He said: "I am proud to have been chosen to lead the development of the new school and to be involved in providing quality provision for those with a wide range of needs."

Jim Porteous, chairman of the school's shadow governing body, said: "George can draw on years of creative and innovative experience with children with special educational needs."

Patrick Scott, director of education and leisure for City of York Council, said: "He will provide the leadership that we are looking for to ensure that special educational needs provision in York is of the very highest quality."

As part of the council's modernisation of special needs provision, a new primary school is also due to open, at Hob Moor, in 2005.

Updated: 12:44 Tuesday, June 10, 2003