A MAJOR Bradford academy trust has announced its CEO is stepping down after 16 years at the helm.

Sir Nick Weller has overseen the growth of Dixons Academies Trust from just one school – Dixons City Academy on Manchester Road, previously Dixons City Technology College – to a network of what will soon be 17 schools spanning four cities.

He will step down from the role in October and Luke Sparkes, who is currently deputy CEO, will replace him.

In a statement, Dixons Academies Trust said the announcement was made with “sadness and immense gratitude”.

It added: “In his 16 years as leader of our trust, Sir Nick has led our growth from one single academy to now 15, soon to be 17, academies across four cities.

"Under his leadership, all of Dixons’ free schools have been graded Outstanding, and all our sponsored academies have climbed at least two Ofsted grades.

“Sir Nick’s endless commitment to our mission: challenging educational and social disadvantage in the North, has provided thousands of children and young people in areas of high deprivation access to an exceptional education, and ensured Dixons’ place as one of the highest performing trusts in the country.

“As well as this, his passion, warmth, kind-spirit, and generosity, have made Dixons an incredibly welcoming and happy place to work.”

The statement added: “Sir Nick will be taking on a new position as CEO of the Academy Transformation Trust. Luke Sparkes, currently Deputy CEO at Dixons, will replace him as CEO at the start of the new academic year.”

The Academy Transformation Trust was founded in 2011 and now has 21 academies.

These are largely based in the Midlands, Norfolk and Essex.

Dixons added in its statement: “We wish Sir Nick all the best in his new role, where he will no doubt build on the incredible legacy he’s left here and continue to make a huge difference to the lives of even more young people across the country.”

Dixons said Mr Weller’s successor has been “committed to challenging educational disadvantage in complex urban settings in the North.”

The trust said of Mr Sparks: “His reputation was forged as founding Principal of Dixons Trinity Academy in Bradford – the first secondary free school to be judged Outstanding by Ofsted.

“Dixons Trinity’s student progress is amongst the very best. More recently, he was the founding Executive Principal of the outstanding Dixons Trinity Chapeltown in Leeds.”