ACADEMY bosses will this week advertise for a head teacher for their revolutionary new school – after their key candidate turned down the top job.

Rob Cawley, the dynamic executive head of Deben and Orwell High Schools, has decided not to apply for the role and to explore pastures new when the Academy Enterprises Trust takes over.

Parents, staff and community leaders have been shocked and saddened by his decision. The schools have improved greatly under his leadership and they felt this development would continue in the years ahead.

Trust chief executive officer David Triggs said: “This is a very private matter for Mr Cawley.

“We would have been delighted if Mr Cawley would have accepted the post but he has chosen not to be part of the academy.

“It is his choice not to stay and I cannot discuss it.

“We want the school’s leadership team to stay to build on what’s been done.”

The trust will be advertising the post of principal on Friday in the Times.

Mr Triggs said the post could begin as early as September, if the county council decide the two schools would merge this summer.

The successful candidate would be expected to stay for at least seven years, the time the trust felt was needed to make an impact.

“Appointment of the principal will be crucial to get the right person to take the academy forward,” he said.

“We want to see results go up and build on the success the school has to make sure every child gets success and qualifications to take them to the next level, not just those who get A to C grades plus English and maths.”

Mr Cawley said it was difficult and not appropriate to talk about his decision at the present time.

He joined Deben High as head in 2008 after working for the previous four years as deputy head of a school in Essex and also taught at Kesgrave High for ten years.

Last year he was made executive head teacher of Deben and Orwell after Orwell’s head left the school.

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