A six-figure salary and performance-related bonus is on offer to the next leader of Bristol's first academy, City Academy in Lawrence Hill.

Ray Priest, pictured, who has been principal of the independently-run state school since it opened in 2003, and was head of its predecessor, St George Community School, is retiring at the end of the academic year.

The governors, led by sponsor John Laycock, are seeking a successor who will be responsible for 1285 students aged between 11-18, 1100 adult learners and a community resources centre used by 220,000 people during the past year.

The school is a specialist sports academy and the new principal will need to appreciate the importance of sport in helping students to develop and achieve.

The advertisement says: "Over the last six years the academy has been widely acclaimed for improving the academic achievements of young people and we are now one of the top performing schools in England for the value added to children's education.

"Our current principal will retire in summer 2010 after effectively leading the academy since it opened seven years ago. We have achieved great things but there are still many more challenges in our quest for 'outstanding'.

"This is an incredibly exciting post for a very special candidate who has the heart and courage to change lives."

Academies have more freedoms than council-run schools, including the freedom to move away from nationally-agreed pay scales.

Two years ago, Dr Priest defended his £105,000 salary package, which was higher than most secondary heads were earning at the time.

Since then, several more academies have opened in Bristol, some sticking to pay scales and others offering higher packages.