A NEW principal has been appointed at one of Teesside’s best performing schools.

The board of directors at Nunthorpe Academy, near Middlesbrough, rated outstanding by Ofsted, have appointed Lee Brown to head the school.

Mr Bown is currently deputy headteacher at Dyke House Sports and Technology College, in Hartlepool.

He will replace Debbie Clinton who will become an Ofsted inspector.

Mr Brown said: “My focus will be producing the highest standards both inside and outside the classroom and ensuring students are prepared for life beyond their years at Nunthorpe.”

In recent years, Nunthorpe, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary, has achieved a number of notable milestones, including the building of a £6.3m sixth form centre in 2008.

Last year, 72 per cent of pupils achieved more than five A* to C GCSES against a 55 per cent average for the Redcar and Cleveland local authority area which includes Nunthorpe.

However, Mrs Clinton’s period in charge has been controversial at times.

She threatened to expel pupils who repeatedly forgot to equip their pencil cases and made national headlines in 2009 when new uniform rules meant 65 pupils were sent home in a single day for not dressing correctly.