A headteacher has been named as the first principal of the new academy due to replace her school.

Heidi Brown, head of King's Manor Community College in Shoreham, will take up the role when the academy opens in September, subject to final Government approval.

She is the first Sussex headteacher to be appointed as principal for the academy replacing their school.

The sponsors behind academies due to replace Falmer High in Brighton, Boundstone Community College in Lancing, Littlehampton Community School and Midhurst Grammar School have all looked beyond the existing head for the highly paid roles.

Church of England group United Learning Trust, which is sponsoring the Shoreham project, said she had already played a key role in raising standards at the school and had worked closely with them to shape the academy plans.

They said she had been chosen following a national recruitment exercise which attracted a number of high-quality candidates.

Mrs Brown became King's Manor's headteacher in 2003. She was originally a sociology teacher and worked in several Sussex schools over almost 30 years, as well as teaching in Zambia for a period.

Mrs Brown said she was thrilled to be appointed and delighted to have the opportunity to lead the academy.

The Shoreham Academy is due to open in the existing school buildings in September and then into £25 million replacement buildings on the same site in 2011/12.

The University of Chichester has agreed to be an education partner for the project.

It will be Government funded and free to attend but independently managed by a board set up by the ULT which will be responsible for setting the curriculum.