Manuzah Tabassum is to become head of Langdon School in east London. Ms Tabassum is deputy head of Kingsmead School in Enfield. She began teaching science at the Compton School in Barnet, north London, and later moved to Willowfield School in Walthamstow. Her next role was head of science at Forest Gate School in Newham, where she became assistant head. She will start her new post in September.

Tom Leech is to retire as head of Milborne St Andrew First School in Blandford, Dorset. He has run the village school for 13 years. His first job was at Tophill Junior School in Portland. He then became deputy head of Southill Primary in Weymouth, before joining Cerne Abbas First School as headteacher.

Clare Fionda is retiring from Sherwood Park Special School in Sutton, Surrey, after 34 years. She started at the school for pupils with severe, profound and multiple learning difficulties as the nursery teacher in 1975. She was appointed deputy head in 1980 and has been head since 2003. During her career, she says she has seen huge developments in this area of special needs. She will retire this summer.

Kath O’Dwyer has been appointed Warrington’s new director of children’s services. She is deputy director of children’s services at Stoke-on-Trent City Council and will take up her new post when Norma Cadwallader, strategic director of children’s services, retires in the autumn.

The Royal Geographical Society has honoured two teachers for excellence in teaching the subject at secondary level. Rebecca Kitchen, head of humanities at Aylesbury High, Buckinghamshire, has been recognised for her creativity in the classroom; developing links with other organisations; her role in promoting positive experiences of the society’s ambassador scheme; and the resources she has developed to teach difficult topics such as the geography of conflict.

Graham Goldup, of Cardinal Newman school in Hove, Sussex, was recognised for his innovative classroom work and his constant efforts to make geography real, relevant and topical. While many local authorities are providing less support for schools in the subject, he has set up a successful local network linked to both the society and the Geographical Association to provide speakers and workshop activities. He has also initiated international links with schools.

Sir Al Aynsley-Green, the Children’s Commissioner, is stepping down at the end of his five-year term of office in February next year. He was appointed as the first person in the post as part of the changes to children’s services under the Every Child Matters agenda. He had previously been national clinical director for children at the Department of Health, Nuffield Professor of Child Health at Great Ormond Street Hospital for children and at the Institute of Child Health, University College, London.

BARRY SHEERMAN

Last week’s man of the moment was, to the surprise of many, the veteran Labour MP and chairman of the schools select committee. Hitherto considered by government whips a reliable loyalist, Mr Sheerman was an unlikely public face of the rebellion against Gordon Brown. Revelling in his new-found fame - even notoriety - Mr Sheerman called a truce after the EU elections, but sources tell ‘The TES’ that he has not given up hope of ousting the current tenant of Number 10 and may start making trouble again in October. Watch this space.