The Shirecliffe secondary is currently balloting parents over the plan in what is thought to be the first poll of its kind in the country.

If given the green light the school will become an academy from September 2009, sponsored by charity Edutrust and with backing from Hallam University.

Announcement of the principal's appointment came this week from Edutrust.

Sheffield-born Mr Mallaband was headteacher at Abbeydale Grange and then became a senior local authority manager, in charge of attendance and behaviour city-wide, before taking over at Parkwood in 2005.

He is a strong supporter of academy status for the school.

He said: "To be Parkwood Academy's principal is my dream job and I'm humbled and inspired by the faith shown in me by so many individuals.

"I view this appointment as an outstanding opportunity to positively and significantly transform the lives of our children.

"I believe the hardest thing I will face as the academy's principal is the challenge of reinvention – that is the ability to enact real and radical change, not more of the same.

"I am certainly looking forward to this challenge."

Lead councillor for children's services, Andrew Sangar, welcomed the appointment, saying: "Whatever form the school takes in the future, Chris Mallaband is an excellent head who is personally committed to leading this school and is the best person to do so and I'm very pleased that Edutrust have given this vote of confidence in his ability."