PERINS School in Alresford has announced its new headmaster to replace long-serving Janice Bernard.

Steve Jones, currently the vice principal of Christ the King College on the Isle of Wight, will join the school from September.

Sue Pakenham-Walsh, chairman of Governors, said: “We were very impressed by the quality of all the candidates we interviewed but Mr Jones was the unanimous choice of the governors in the face of strong competition. We feel sure that he will settle in very quickly and are confident that he is the right person and will be a worthy successor to Mrs Bernard.”

She added: “We believe that Mr Jones will be a dynamic and inspirational leader for Perins, who will ensure every student enjoys the very best education we can provide.”

Perins is a specialist sports college and has just over 1,000 pupils.

Mrs Bernard has been head since 2000.