Steve Downes The bosses of East Norfolk's first academy have moved swiftly to headhunt a leader.The academy to replace Oriel High in Gorleston will be led by Nicole McCartney, who is currently vice-principal of Barnfield West Academy in Luton.

Steve Downes

The bosses of East Norfolk's first academy have moved swiftly to headhunt a leader.

The academy to replace Oriel High in Gorleston will be led by Nicole McCartney, who is currently vice-principal of Barnfield West Academy in Luton.

Ms McCartney's boss, Barnfield West principal Rachel de Souza, has been recruited to lead the academy that will replace Costessey High, near Norwich.

The double swoop will leave the high-flying Luton academy to find two new leaders - but promises much for the �20m developments at Gorleston and Costessey, which are on the brink of being given government permission.

Both the new academies are sponsored by Ormiston Trust.

The two women are “principal designates” until formal consent for the schemes is gained. But that is believed to be a formality, and they are likely to take over as principals of the two academies when they open in their current buildings from September.

Ian Cleland, chief executive of Ormiston Academies Trust, said: “We are thrilled to have two outstanding principal designates for Gorleston and Costessey.

“Both Rachel and Nicole bring a fantastic track record to the area and we are very confident that they will both drive for the highest standards.”

The Gorleston co-sponsors are Norfolk County Council and Gresham's School at Holt.

Ms de Souza, who helped Barnfield West to be the most improved school in England in 2009, is set to get up to �135,000-a-year.

She will get between �100,000-110,000 for the role of principal, plus �25,000 as executive director of Ormiston Trust's eastern region academies - include those at Costessey and Gorleston, and Ormiston Bushfield Academy in Peterborough.

Ms McCartney is likely to get between �100,000-110,000 per year.

Shelagh Hutson, the county council's cabinet member for children's services, said: “These excellent appointments will help us fulfil our ambitions for both schools.

“We look forward to working closely with the Ormiston Trust and other partners - and to the contribution Rachel de Souza and Nicole McCartney will make to these academies, as well as to children and young people's learning and education in Norfolk as a whole.”

Expressions of interest for the two new academies have been accepted by the Department for Children, Schools and Families and public consultation will start next week.

Ormiston Trust is a non-profit charity, founded in 1969 in memory of Fiona Ormiston Murray. The trust's principal objective is the support of children and the communities in which they live.

It currently has seven academies open. The proposed academies in Costessey and Gorleston are two of four Ormiston academies due to open in September 2010.

There are currently two academies in Norfolk - both in Norwich. Open Academy is at the former Heartsease High on Marryat Road and City Academy Norwich at the former Earlham High on Earlham Road.