AN academic whose family worked in the pottery industry has been named as the next head of Keele University.

Stoke-on Trent-born Nick Foskett, below right, will be returning to his roots next summer, when he takes up the post of vice-chancellor.

On August 1 he will succeed Professor Dame Janet Finch, left, who is retiring after 15 years in the hot seat.

Professor Foskett was born in Burslem and attended Greenways Primary, in Stockton Brook, and Wolstanton Grammar School, now known as Wolstanton High, in Newcastle.

He then landed a place at Oxford University, where he took a degree in geography.

The subject led him into a career as a geography teacher in secondary schools and further education, before moving into higher education.

The 54-year-old is currently the dean of the faculty of law, arts and social sciences at the University of Southampton, one of the UK's elite Russell Group universities.

He has also worked as a consultant to the Government and produced internationally-recognised research in education.

Professor Foskett said he was "delighted" to be taking on the role at Keele University.

He said: "The next few years will be challenging for all universities, but Keele is well placed to have a strong profile in the higher education world and its local community.

"I also look forward to returning to North Staffordshire, where my family has its roots."

Generations of Professor Foskett's family have lived in the area and the father of two has retained a keen interest in the fortunes of Stoke City and Port Vale.

He is joining Keele just as higher education becomes something of a political football nationally.

A major review is underway into the future of university funding, including whether to raise tuition fees, and universities are also bracing themselves for grant cuts.

Ian Dudson, pro-chancellor of Keele and chairman of its university council, said: "The whole higher education sector is expecting difficult financial times as public expenditure is reduced following the recession.

"But Nick Foskett has shown us that he has the vision and the leadership skills to build on the outstanding work of our current vice-chancellor, Professor Dame Janet Finch.

"I am sure he will also want to play a strong and visionary role within North Staffordshire."

Professor Finch's time at Keele will be remembered for achievements that included bringing a medical school to the area and overseeing a multi-million pound expansion of the university's campus and science park.

But she has also been a controversial figure and attracted criticism, including clashes over the way she has handled proposals for staff redundancies.

In 2007, nearly one in ten undergraduates at Keele signed a petition, demanding to know why she had been awarded a 31.7 per cent pay rise the previous year.