A free school proposed to open this year has appointed a designated headteacher.

The Seckford Foundation Free Schools Trust has announced that Nikola King will take the reins at Ixworth Free School if it is approved by the Department for Education to open in September.

Miss King, who has been teaching since 1999, said: 'I believe the key to the success of any school is in the strong partnerships the school develops with its parents, carers and the wider community.

'By working together, we can ensure each student in our care receives the best support and guidance available. We can also encourage them to develop a lifelong love for learning.'

She will lead the school having completed a Masters in Education at Cambridge University and is currently studying for a doctorate at King's College, London.