EDUCATION 'superhead' Sir Dexter Hutt has been appointed to help turn around the fortunes of a Black Country college.

Sir Hutt is to take over at Chair of the Corporation at Birmingham Metropolitan College which runs Stourbridge College and the Brierley Hill Art and Design Campus.

He is set to take over the reins from Steve Hollis when Mr Hollis steps down next month after five years in office.

Sir Hutt was knighted in 2004 for services to education.

Under his leadership Ninestiles school in Acocks Green was judged outstanding by Ofsted consistently from 2006 onwards and won national awards and plaudits.

While still based at Ninestiles, he was also chief executive of Hastings Federation of Schools working on the regeneration of Hastings with East Sussex County Council.

From 2004-2008 he served as a Commissioner with the Commission for Racial Equality, having been appointed by the Home Secretary.

He said of his new role: “I am very excited about leading the board here. I think the college is doing many good things and has huge potential. It will be my job working with partners and colleagues to ensure that the college’s potential is fulfilled.”

Interim BMet principal and CEO, Cliff Hall, said: “The college undertook a robust selection process and were fortunate to attract a number of high quality candidates, but the Corporation were unanimous in its view that Dexter is a very experienced leader with a proven track record in education and is the ideal person to take the college forward.

“The college also owes a debt of gratitude to Steve who has led BMet through a period of significant change and has ensured the college has maintained good relationships with partners.”

Mr Hollis said of Sir Hutt's appointment: "He brings great enthusiasm, skills and knowledge to the role and proved to be an outstanding candidate.”

Sir Hutt will formally take up his new role in the week beginning February 11.

Meanwhile - BMet has yet to start the recruitment process to find a new permanent CEO and principal following the departure of Andrew Cleaves, who left his post in September just weeks before the college was hit with a third ‘requires improvement’ rating by Ofsted.