Mark Neild, the headteacher at Samuel Ward Academy, has been appointed to a post with the Paradigm Trust.

Mr Neild will be moving on from the Haverhill school at the end of this term and replaced by an interim head, Nick Froy, between September and January, until a new appointment is made.

Mr Neild said: “I have enjoyed working the staff and students at Samuel Ward Academy and the contacts I have had with many parents. I wish all at the school very well - it's a school I am proud to have been part of.”

Tim Coulson, Chief Executive of the Samuel Ward Academy Trust, said, 'Mark Neild has been a very significant member of the leadership of this trust over the last three years, including as headteacher at Samuel Ward Academy for the past year. We are very grateful for his work and have no doubt he will be a great asset to Paradigm Trust."

Mr Froy will act as interim head before returning to his post as principal of the neighbouring Newmarket Academy.

From September, Mr Froy’s position at Newmarket Academy will be taken up by existing deputy principal, Elaine Wilson, until he returns to the school in the New Year.

Mr Froy said: “Elaine has been deputy principal for the last few years and is highly respected and regarded within the school community.

“I will still be part of the Newmarket community during the interim period and I will be attending key school events including our open evening and Key Stage 4 presentation evening.”

Both Newmarket and Samuel Ward academies are part of the Samuel Ward Academy Trust and Mr Coulson said this was a perfect example of the close working between member schools.

Mr Coulson said: “Nick Froy knows Samuel Ward well from his work in the Trust and as a governor at the school.

“When we knew Mark would be moving on, we quickly held discussions with Nick over temporarily supporting Samuel Ward in line with the Trust’s values and ethos of support.”