GOVERNORS of a popular Teesside academy have announced the appointment of a new Principal.
David Dawes is to be the new leader of The King’s Academy, in Coulby Newham, from September.
Mr Dawes will take over from Chris Drew, who has been Principal for ten years and is stepping down to take on a new role to expand and develop the Emmanuel Schools Foundation (ESF), which runs the academy.
Mr Dawes was already known to ESF having been a Vice Principal at one of its sister schools, Bede Academy, in Blyth, where he had responsibility for academic achievement.
Originally from Leeds, Mr Dawes went to the University of Cambridge where he completed a masters degree in engineering. He then attended the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, and was commissioned into the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, reaching the rank of Captain and serving in Germany and Bosnia.
Married with three daughters, Mr Dawes went on to work in industry, for Walkers Crisps, at Peterlee, then the large US consulting company AT Kearney and, finally, in private equity with a part of Prudential.
After studying education at the University of London and qualifying as a mathematics teacher, he worked in two large comprehensive schools in the capital, become an assistant headteacher at JFS School in Harrow before joining Bede Academy.
In his current post as headteacher of Stainburn School, in Cumbria, Mr Dawes has led its rapid transformation, as well as students’ achievement to the school’s best ever results.
Mr Dawes said: “I am delighted to be joining The King’s Academy to take forward the vast work of the first 12 years. It will be a great privilege to work with the wonderful students, their parents and the community, and also to lead the staff who are of exceptional quality.”
Chair of governors Nigel Robson said: "Under Chris Drew's leadership and with a very stable, committed and professional staff team, The King's Academy has seen considerable progress and achievement in recent years. In seeking a new Principal, we wanted someone who could not only maintain that record but also continue to build on the academy's success.
"Mr Dawes has immense, broad experience in the military, in industry and in education. He is a strong leader and is the right person to take The King's Academy forward into a new era."
