An academy rated 'inadequate' by education watchdogs is getting a new principal.

Ofsted inspectors delivered their damning verdict on the King's Lynn Academy (KLA) last month. They strongly criticised its leaders for failing to make improvements and boost pupils' attainment.

Now the College of West Anglia Academies Trust, which runs the school, said it was restructuring leadership at KLA and another secondary school in the town.

'CWA Academy Trust has made some changes to the leadership at both KES Academy (KES) and KLA,' it said in a statement.

'The post of executive principal of both academies, held by Craig Morrison since September 2014, has been removed in order to provide more focused leadership in each academy.

'Mr Morrison will continue as principal at KES whilst Alan Fletcher, currently director of achievement at the trust, will take up the post of acting principal at KLA.'

Chief executive of the trust, Dr Duncan Ramsey, added: 'The new leadership arrangements are designed to increase the leadership capacity at KLA as a key element in the trust's plan to deliver the rapid improvement required, as identified in the recent Ofsted report, as well as providing KES with the focused leadership to continue its journey towards achieving an outstanding Ofsted grading.'

Ofsted inspectors visited the 650-pupil school in Queen Mary Road in November. In their report, they said: 'Leaders and governors have not demonstrated the capacity to bring about necessary improvement. They have not acted quickly enough to strengthen teaching and outcomes since the previous inspection. Consequently, leadership is inadequate.

'Pupils' outcomes are below average in a range of subjects, including in English and mathematics. Teaching has not improved rapidly enough since the previous inspection. Too many pupils have underachieved, and continue to do so.'

The academy trust took over the school in 2010. Ofsted said it required improvement at its last two inspections.

Mr Morrison said there were more positives than negatives in the inspectors' report, adding: 'I accept the report's criticism of leadership for not taking swift enough action to address achievement in some subjects.'