BEXLEYHEATH Academy’s new principal has high hopes for the school.

Liverpool-born Carl Wakefield, 41, aims to get the Woolwich Road academy rated "outstanding" by Ofsted in the near future.

A teacher for 20 years and a headteacher at schools in east Kent, Suffolk and Gloucestershire, the rugby enthusiast took over the reins from previous head Robert Dore at the beginning of this spring term.

The father-of-three said:"I'm absolutely delighted to be appointed the new principal of Bexleyheath Academy and it's been a pleasure to meet the staff and students.

"I believe I have the experience, commitment, passion and belief to build on the tremendous progress of my predecessor to lead Bexleyheath Academy to become an "outstanding" school at the earliest opportunity."

The school became London’s third mayoral academy in September 2011 and was officially opened in the same month by Mayor of London Boris Johnson.