Deal’s only secondary school Castle Community College has been given a new name.

From today, it will be called SchoolsCompany The Goodwin Academy and the everyday name will be Goodwin Academy.

The SchoolsCompany Trust, which sponsors the school, has signed the funding agreement and commercial transfer agreement, which both convert today.

With that, the school has announced that interim principal Jane Hadlow will leave in August.

The changes come ahead of a brand new building for the school, which is set to open in September 2017.

Mrs Hadlow was appointed in 2014 when the school, having been placed in special measures, faced its most challenging and turbulent times.

She had a clear goal to improve standards at the school and accomplished that in less than two years.

She has been described as “an irreplaceable leader who fiercely cares about the needs of our young people” by chief executive officer of SchoolsCompany Elias Achilleos.

The current head of school at the Salisbury Road site, Simon Smith, will take over as acting principal from September 1.

It will be an acting appointment only until January 2017 while the school carries out a national recruitment campaign to secure and appoint a permanent substantive principal for Goodwin Academy.

Mr Achilleos said: “I would like to pay tribute to Jane Hadlow for her phenomenal passion, ability, determination and dynamic leadership of the students and staff of Castle Community College.

“Jane took charge without hesitation and set about to improve the quality of education in a focused and selfless style putting the needs and priorities of our young people first, raising the reputation and profile within East Kent.

“Removing any school from special measures requires monumental efforts and change management initiatives which are only successful under careful planning, monitoring, evaluation and ultimately the highest levels of leadership.

“Castle was a school which was described by HMI as having ‘significant challenges’ unique compared to other schools.

“This did not phase Jane and her drive and ambition to turn the school around in less than two years putting Castle on course for a secure bright future, with a sponsor, The SchoolsCompany Trust and a brand new building set to open in September 2017 creating a school the whole community can be proud of.”

He also acknowledged that Mrs Hadlow had relocated away from her home in Colchester to enable her to focus fully on her work and having completed her mission, she has said it is time for her to go home.

He added: “Jane is an irreplaceable leader who fiercely cares about the needs of our young people and has made her priceless contribution securing the education for the young people of East Kent which will be written in history forever.

“I personally will miss working with Jane. I wish her my sincerest best wishes for the future. I thank Jane immensely for everything she has done for Castle Community College.”