A HEADTEACHER will return to where his career began after being appointed to lead one of Stoke-on-Trent's first academy schools.

Mark Stanyer will officially take up post as principal of the new academy replacing Blurton High in September.

The 48-year-old, pictured, cut his teaching teeth at Blurton High, and went on to spend 17 years there, before transferring to Longton High, in Meir, and then several schools in Crewe.

And he could soon be working with the children of pupils he taught back in the 1980s and 1990s.

Mr Stanyer said: "When I was interviewed for the teaching post at Blurton High in 1983, it was the first interview I'd done. The head asked me where I saw myself in 20 years and I said 'sitting there'. Now I will be.

"It's a privileged position to lead an academy."

Mr Stanyer already has practice of building a new school from the foundations of an old one.

He has spent the last three years as headteacher of Crewe's Sir William Stanier Community School.

That school was formed through the amalgamation of Coppenhall High and Victoria Community Technology School, where he was previously the head. Pupils and staff finally moved into a new £21 million building last autumn.

And almost the same amount of money will be spent on building Blurton academy's new home, although it will not be completed until the end of 2012.

Mr Stanyer, who lives in Lightwood, said: "The experience I've had working with architects and managing a new school will stand me in good stead.

"I'll be working with everyone at the academy to get them to take pride in it. You can feel a good school when you walk in."

Last year, the Crewe school celebrated a 12 per cent improvement in GCSE results and was named one of Cheshire East's best secondaries for individual pupil progress.

To enliven lessons, teachers regularly used Who Wants To Be A Millionaire-style techniques, where pupils answer questions by pressing a button on a voting pad.

The Blurton academy, sponsored by the Ormiston Trust in partnership with Keele University, will also focus on practical activities.

Every 11 and 12-year-old pupil will study adventure learning, where they will work in teams and get to grips with outdoor pursuits.

Mr Stanyer said: "It's a philosophy of how to learn. The academy is looking to set up adventure learning-type posts in the grounds, which could include a climbing wall."

To mark the launch of the academy, every pupil will receive a free uniform and sports kit.

Mr Stanyer, who spent his own schooldays at Sandon High, in Meir, will leave Sir William Stanier at Easter to become the academy's principal designate.

Joyce Hodgetts, managing director of the Ormiston Academies Trust, said: "We're delighted Mark is joining the Ormiston family."

She said the school would build on the past successes of Blurton High.

Current Blurton head Richard Balukiewicz, who is understood to have applied for the new position, will remain in post until July.