A new principal has been appointed to a Thetford primary school which became an academy at the start of the school year.

Lee Francis will take over as principal at the Diamond Academy on September 1.

His appointment comes at a time when the school's sponsor, Academy Transformation Trust (ATT), is looking to grow its group of academies across Norfolk.

They currently include Admirals Academy in Thetford Iceni Academy in Methwold and The Nicholas Hamond Academy in Swaffham.

Diamond Academy was previously Queensway Community Junior School but became an academy in September.

It is rated as 'satisfactory' by Ofsted having previously been put into special measures.

The school's headteacher, Laura Jestico, left in March with the academy citing 'personal reasons' for her departure.

And since March Nikki Hardman, from ATT, has acted as principal.

Mr Francis will join the school from his last post as acting headteacher at the John Buchan School which teaches forces children in Germany.

He said: 'I'm delighted to be joining Diamond Academy this September and I very much share the trust's ethos around developing pupils as individuals and not just learners.

'Our aim is to ensure pupils have access to the best possible opportunities and experiences during their education, so that they can reach their full potential and are better prepared for the future.'

He has been a deputy headteacher for four years and before working in Germany, spent three years in a secondary school in Cyprus, for the children of service personnel.

Mr Francis was previously a technology and ICT teacher in North Lincolnshire.

He now lives in Doncaster with his wife and two children, and enjoys spending time with his family, playing golf and supporting his football team, Doncaster Rovers.

Joyce Hodgetts, managing director of the trust, said: 'Academy Transformation Trust is expanding and developing at a stable pace and this recent employment drive ensures that we have the right people in place to push our academies forward.

'We are very much concentrating on building a rewarding and proactive learning environment for our pupils and I know that in his new role as Principal at Diamond Academy, Lee will go above and beyond to achieve this.'