A new multimillion-pound school set to open next year has appointed its headteacher.

Adam Whitehead has been announced as the headteacher of new Bohunt Academy in Worthing.

The 900-pupil secondary school is opening its doors to students in September following £30 million in funding from government to combat a lack of school places in the town.

Mr Whitehead joins Bohunt from The Weald Community School and Sixth Form in Billingshurst. After qualifying as a science teacher at the University of Sussex, he worked in three different schools across the county, including as assistant head as part of a team at St Paul’s Catholic College in Burgess Hill. He left St Paul’s to join The Weald School as deputy head in September 2008.

BET said Mr Whitehead is committed to helping his new school through “well proven pioneering teaching methods” such as a focus on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) education and immersion language, where pupils learn a third of the curriculum in a foreign language.

Neil Strowger, chief executive of Bohunt Education Trust, said: “As soon as we started speaking to Adam, we knew he was the perfect fit for Bohunt School Worthing. He has an exceptional track record of consistently delivering the highest standards at schools across Sussex.

“Like BET, Adam is committed to bringing innovation that works to the classroom. With the deadline for secondary school applications on Friday, his appointment shows how committed we are to bringing exceptional education to young people in Worthing.”