The new principal of Brighton Aldridge Community Academy (Baca) wants to transform the school into a “world-class centre of learning”.

Bob Speight, currently a vice principal in South West London, has been appointed to lead the secondary school in Lewes Road, Brighton, which has some 700 pupils.

The current principal, Dylan Davies, is to leave in April to join Ofsted as an inspector.

Mr Speight said: “Working with the Baca team and our executive principal, I believe we can make the academy a truly world-class centre of learning.

“Students are entitled to great lessons every day and access to a wide range of extra-curricular experiences.

“My role as principal of Baca will be to help every member of the academy community perform to their potential, ensuring that our students experience the very best, day in, day out.

“Baca is a great academy with so many special features.

“It is an honour to be given the opportunity to lead it on the next stage of its journey.”

Mr Speight will be joining the school from Ark Bolingbroke Academy in Wandsworth.

He is credited with helping pupils achieve results, putting the new academy among the highest performing school in the Wandsworth borough with its first GCSE cohort.

Eighty two per cent of its students achieved the expected grade 4 and above in English and maths.

He also led the process of setting up the school’s thriving sixth form and the establishment of a programme of more than 150 different after-school clubs.

Jim May, chairman of governors at Baca, said: “We are delighted to have appointed Bob Speight as the new principal at Baca from a strong field of candidates.

“His track record at schools in London means he is well equipped to build on the great progress that has happened under Dylan Davies’s leadership.

“Following Ofsted’s recognition of our good teaching, superb facilities and outstanding student care last year, Bob’s appointment puts us in a great position to build further on the academy’s growing reputation.”

Under Mr Davies, the school achieved its first good Ofsted report last year, following “requiring improvement” ratings in 2014 and 2012.

Following his departure, vice principal Janet Tremble will be acting principal until Mr Speight joins.

He will take up his role at BACA full-time from June 4 and will be spending a number of days at the academy from this month.