News

The search is on for a new Policy Director who will help to develop and build on education successes in Poole.

Dr Shirley Goodwin, Policy Director, will be leaving the Council following a period of long term sickness. In the lead up to Christmas the Borough is looking to recruit a new Policy Director whose post will be designed to incorporate the statutory Chief Education Officer role.

John McBride, Chief Executive, said: "Poole has undergone major change since becoming a Unitary Authority with responsibility for education being at the core of its priorities. We have achieved good progress since 1997 with some major achievements in education and we are looking for an innovative leader to ensure these continue. The successful candidate will work with our schools to build on the strong partnerships started by Shirley, to develop excellent opportunities for young people across the Borough and to tackle the challenges that face education."

Shirley joined the management team at the Council in 1996 and has been responsible for ensuring the smooth transition of schools from the authority of Dorset County Council to the Borough of Poole since it became a Unitary Authority in 1997.

Councillor Brian Clements, Leader of the Council, said: "Although we are one of the lowest funded LEA’s in the country, under Shirley’s leadership, Poole has seen its school OFSTED results improve and we achieved an extremely positive general report in 2002. Shirley’s support and commitment to the Borough’s education service has been outstanding and I would like to wish her all the best for the future."

Poole LEA is in the top 10% nationally at Key Stage 4 with performance at GCSE consistently on the increase. The percentage of young people achieving 5 GCSE’s Grades A-C was 61% in 2001.