One of Bristol's longest-serving secondary school head teachers is to retire in the summer.

Theresa Thorne, head teacher of Bristol Metropolitan College, has been at the school and its predecessor, Whitefield Fishponds Community School, for 22 years.

She joined as head of post-16, then served as deputy head for a decade and head for nine years.

Mrs Thorne led the move from the old school to the new, which opened last April, and saw pupils achieve record exam results last summer.

The chairwoman of the school's governors, Chris Cooper, said: "Mrs Thorne will continue until July to work towards raising the achievement of all our students as she has always done. Her enthusiasm and commitment to the school has been exceptional and we will all miss her."

Bristol Met is consulting parents, staff and the community about becoming an academy in September.

The aim is for it to join forces with the John Cabot Academy in Kingswood and Bristol Brunel Academy in Speedwell as part of the Cabot Learning Federation.

The federation is sponsored by Rolls-Royce and the University of the West of England and is led by executive principal David Carter.

Bristol Met is advertising for a principal for the academy, to start work in September on a salary of £80,000 to £90,000.

A head teacher is also needed at Fairfield High School, which is also in new buildings but remains a local authority school.

The Bristol school did not appoint a permanent replacement for Nicky McAllister, who retired last year. It is being run by interim head Lyn Chamberlain.