Susan Gorham will be headmistress of the independent Burgess Hill school for girls in West Sussex, succeeding Rosemary Lewis on her retirement. Mrs Gorham is currently deputy head of Dame Alice Harpur school in Bedford, an independent girls’ school.
Vernon Beauchamp is the new chief executive of the National Autistic Society. He was previously chief executive of the Royal Hospital for Neurodisability in Putney, south-west London. Before that, he directed the overall training and leadership development of all British Army infantry officers and soldiers.
Patricia Kelleher will be the new headmistress of the independent Perse school for girls in Cambridge, succeeding Helen Smith, who retires at the end of August. Miss Kelleher is currently deputy head of Brentwood school, a co-educational independent day school in Essex.
Three new members have ben appointed to the Equal Opportunities Commission: Teresa Akpeki - a lecturer in voluntary-sector studies; Sue Ashtiany, a solicitor with the firm Morgan Cole; and Sylvie Pierce, managing director of propperty firm Capital and Provident Regeneration.
John Freeman, deputy director of education in Somerset, has been appointed as acting director of education for the metropolitan borough of Dudley in the West Midlands for six months. This follows the retirement of chief education officer Dick Colligan. The council will be advertising for a permanent director of education.
Elizabeth Surber will be the next headmistress of the King’s high school for girls in Warwick, succeeding Jackie Anderson when she retires in the summer. For the past six years, Mrs Surber has been head of Laurel Park school in Glasgow, another independent girls’ school.
