Meet the heads: Dr Ray Priest, City Academy, Bristol

D R Ray Priest was appointed principal of the South West's first academy when it opened in 2003, having previously enjoyed 11 years as a headteacher in the city.

He is now Bristol's longest serving secondary head teacher.

In 2009 the academy received its second Ofsted report since opening and was declared as providing outstanding or good provision in all categories. "The care, guidance and support that every student receives are outstanding" and students make "good progress in their learning". It can be no surprise that the academy was named 'Outstanding Academy of the Year in 2007', one of many accolades received in recent years.

Examination results have continued to improve and the academy has been recognised as being in the top eight per cent of schools for adding value to students' progress every year since opening. One in three students who start their secondary education at the academy now aspires to university and the staying on rate of students at post 16 is highly impressive.

The academy has extensive modern buildings completed in 2005. This year a new £1m vocational training centre has been added to the impressive range of teaching facilities available, and the academy now houses the first Youth Achievement Foundation in a secondary school in England.

The academy remains popular with parents and this is reflected in admission numbers. Each year a number of students are also selected on the basis of sporting aptitude for access on to the specialist scholarship pathway. Whatever a child's talents, parents are impressed by the academy's commitment to raising standards enabling every young person to aim high. Although the academy offers a highly technological learning environment, the traditional values of care and respect continue to underpin all that is achieved.

In the modern world it is important for children to learn how to communicate and work in teams effectively. They need to learn skills that are important to their future, underpinned by excellent subject knowledge.

There is a saying at the academy that children should 'reach for the stars' and this belief in the talents of every individual is at the heart of the helping young people achieve the best that they can.