THIS is the new headteacher who has been chosen to lead Worcester’s proposed city academy should it replace Elgar Technology College.

Currently the deputy headteacher at the Tudor Grange School in Solihull, Claire Maclean has been picked as the principal designated for the Bilford Road School.

While public consultation on the plans to close Elgar Technology College and replace it with a new independent academy is underway, the job has been provisionally given to Mrs Maclean.

Bob O’Hagan, overall project manager for the academy for Worcester, said they had to cover for each eventuality so that if the final decision was to turn Elgar into an academy sponsored by Mrs Maclean’s former school she would be ready to take position immediately.

He said: “She is a very experienced school leader and has played a major part in the success of Tudor Grange.”

Mrs Maclean applied for the £100,000-a-year job through a national advert in the Times Educational Supplement in February.

The advert said the principal would be “required for Easter 2009 (or as soon as possible there-after)” although the final decision is not due from Worcestershire County Council until Thursday, May 7, when the cabinet decides.

Mr O’Hagan said she was unanimously chosen through a selection panel and three days of interviews from a shortlist of six candidates. The panel included governors and a teacher from Tudor Grange, headteachers from other schools, representatives from the department for children, schools and families (DCSF) and Worcestershire County Council.

A county council spokesman said: “The appointment for a principal designate has been made by the sponsor, Tudor Grange School, and is subject to Worcestershire County Council agreeing the closure of Elgar Technology College and the funding agreement between the sponsor, Tudor Grange School and the DCSF being approved.

“Worcestershire County Council’s role is to manage the formal process for closing Elgar Technology College to allow for the opening of the academy.”