A NEWLY-appointed principal believes his new school has the potential to be ‘outstanding’.

Matthew Little has been chosen to lead Darwen Vale High School from the beginning of June.

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He is aiming to continue the Blackburn Road school’s turn around after it was placed into special measures in 2013 after receiving the lowest-possible Ofsted rating before becoming an academy.

The post was advertised by the Aldridge Foundation in December following the retirement of Fiona Jack at the end of the summer term.

Mr Little said: “I am truly delighted to be appointed as principal.

“I look forward to working with the school community and, with the support of Aldridge Education, ensuring that students at Darwen Vale High School experience an outstanding and enjoyable education.

“I was excited by the emphasis on high aspirations for students, the development of entrepreneurial qualities and the spectacular building with its first-class facilities.

“After meeting the staff and the students, it is clear that Darwen Vale has the potential to be an outstanding school where local children can acquire the knowledge, skills and qualifications to succeed and become active members of their community.”

After becoming an academy Darwen Vale legally became a new school and is expected to be re-inspected by Ofsted.

Mr Little is vice principal of South Shore Academy in Blackpool, which achieved record GCSE results last August.

Prior to that he was in the same position at Kearsley Academy in Bolton.

He has also worked as deputy headteacher at both George Tomlinson High School in Bolton and Harrop Fold High School in Salford.

Since Mrs Jack’s retirement, David Hallam has acted as interim principal and will continue in that role until Mr Little starts.

Brendan Loughran, executive principal for Aldridge Education schools in Darwen, said: “Matthew comes with a wealth of experience in successful school improvement.

“We are looking forward to welcoming him to Darwen Vale to build on the great work currently being done and to lead the school in its next phase of improvement.

“Matthew joins a great team of staff at Vale who are all determined to get the best possible outcomes for our students. “This has been exemplified by the great job Mr Hallam has done in the interim role.”

Darwen Aldridge Community Academy is readvertising for a new headteacher after trying to fill the position last year.

David Cane has been acting as interim principal at the Sudell Road school since Mr Loughran was promoted.