The deputy head at one of Brighton and Hove's top schools is to take on one of the hardest jobs in the city for a year.

Karen Lees, deputy at Varndean School, will work alongside Mark Whitby at East Brighton College of Media Arts (Comart) in Whitehawk, Brighton, to ensure pupils get a good education while the argument about whether the school should shut rages on.

Ms Lees, who has been at Varndean for three years, will be responsible for the day-to-day running of the school while Mr Whitby, who is headteacher at the Alternative Centre for Education (ACE), will oversee it.

Ms Lees said: "Because Mark is still headteacher at ACE the day to day running of Comart will come down to me.

"It will give me the opportunity to lead a school in challenging circumstances but with someone else who has experience of managing a school in a challenging situation."

Two months ago, The Argus revealed Mr Whitby was to take over as executive head after governors failed to appoint anyone permanent to the £72,000-a-year post.

A week later The Argus also revealed the school was threatened with closure and parents were to be consulted over its future.

Ms Lees said her appointment was not about being "parachuted" in to save the school but about managing the situation in the best way for students and staff.

Ms Lees, who teaches business studies, said: "I am absolutely looking forward to it. It has been a very quick decision and that has been quite difficult to come to terms with.

"One of the key reasons behind my decision was the fact I can now work with Mark Whitby and another positive is I can also draw on the resources of Varndean.

"We will be supporting the staff and trying to make sure the children get the best education. Whatever happens, children there will still need to be taught and taught well.

"It's about supporting them at the moment and then, whatever happens, managing any decisions about the school once they have been made."

Ms Lees said she would not have been able to take the job without the support of Varndean headteacher Andy Schofield.

He said Ms Lees had played a key part in developing Varndean and was confident she would do well at Comart.