A new principal has been appointed for a Suffolk academy with the current head set to retire this summer.

Andrew Salter is leaving Felixstowe Academy after leading the biggest overhaul in the town’s education system – the merger of the Deben and Orwell High schools and the construction of the new £18million state-of-the-art academy.

The new principal will be Anthony Williams, who will be moving to the resort with his family from Croydon.

Mr Salter said: “When my wife and I first started out on our teaching careers, over 32 years ago, we had discussed the ideal age where both of us would be able to retire.

“As we started planning for our personal objectives for 2015, we both realised that I had reached this point!

“In a rapidly developing and challenging educational environment, Felixstowe now has one modern and vibrant academy, which serves the needs of the whole community in a cohesive and united way, under one very special roof. I am very proud to leave this in place for those who follow.

“The opportunity now is to build upon these strong foundations, to further consolidate, develop and deliver the growing positive community ethos which provides appropriate opportunities and enables all our young people in Felixstowe to achieve their potential and to give them the skill and desire to strive always to ‘make their best better’.”

Mr Salter began his career as a music teacher in Nottinghamshire, before moving to Suffolk as head of music at Holywells High, and then moved to Deben High initially as head of performing and visual arts before becoming assistant headteacher and then deputy head.

Academy sponsors the Academies Enterprise Trust (AET) said Mr Williams had been chosen from “a very strong field of candidates”.

Mr Williams has been teaching for 15 years and was previously a senior leader for the Oasis group, for AET at Everest Academy, and is currently working for GLF Schools as an associate principal.

He said: “First and foremost, Felixstowe Academy has huge potential and serves a community that I am very passionate about and wish to see flourish through transformational education.

“Much of this is down to my experience of working in London and rural areas, where the quality of educational provision can make such a difference to the lives, hopes and aspirations of young people.”