A HIGHLY regarded education professional has been appointed as the new chief executive officer of The Queen Katherine School Multi Academy Trust.

Paul Slater, who has already been working with the Trust as a school improvement partner for the last two years, will take over from Stephen Wilkinson who retires at the end of this academic year.

"Paul stood out as an exceptional candidate, passionately driven by his moral purpose of providing the best education for all children," said chair of trustees Beth Curl.

The Queen Katherine School Multi Academy Trust currently has three schools in the group, QKS itself, which is based on Appleby Road, Kendal, along with George Hastwell Special School and Walney School in Barrow.

"As a local resident living in Levens, I have long admired the work of The Queen Katherine School when it was a Teaching School and National Support School under Stephen Wilkinson’s leadership and now under the leadership of Jon Hayes," said Mr Slater.

"Being able to continue my current work with Jon Hayes at The Queen Katherine School, John Richardson at Walney School and Karen Baxter at George Hastwell School, is a wonderful opportunity as their schools soar forwards."

Mr Slater will continue his current headship of Trumacar Nursery and Community Primary School in Heysham when he takes up the additional duties of his new role.