Denise Hyde has become the new director of children’s services at North Lincolnshire Council. She has previously worked as services director for children, strategy and partnerships, head of children’s services, and assistant director for children and families. Mrs Hyde trained as a teacher, and before joining North Lincolnshire Council she worked at Humberside County Council in the youth and careers service.
Peter Kingham has become a regional director of education for Oasis Community Learning. Mr Kingham started teaching RE and government and politics at Southborough School in Kingston and moved to Alderman Smith School in Nuneaton as head of RE. He later became assistant head of John Cleveland College in Hinckley and deputy head of Etone Community School in Nuneaton, where he progressed to headteacher. After joining the Campion School in Leamington as consultant headteacher, he went on to become the executive head of Hartshill School in Nuneaton.
Rabbi Melvyn Bloom has retired after 35 years at the North West London Jewish Day School in Willesden, where he was a Kodesh (religious studies) teacher at the primary school. Rabbi Bloom introduced Talmud classes, which helped children in their lifelong commitment to Jewish learning. He was the school’s religious studies Senco, and pursued an alternative approach to Jewish studies and Hebrew reading. He will continue to serve as assistant rabbi at Stanmore synagogue in London.
Colette Burgess has been appointed principal designate of Oldham’s new academy, which will replace the Grange School in September 2010. Ms Burgess, who is deputy head of Wardle High School in Rochdale, will be working with the existing staff at the Grange School to prepare for the opening. The academy, which is supported by Edutrust Academies Charitable Trust, a multi-academy sponsor, will specialise in English, with foreign languages and visual arts.
Keith Miller is to become principal of Crest Boys’ Academy in Brent, another Edutrust academy. The new school, which opens in September, will replace the John Kelly Boys’ Technology College. Mr Miller is a consultant head at Parkwood High School in Sheffield. He started as a design and technology teacher before moving to senior leadership roles in four London comprehensive schools. The trust is planning to open academies in London, Birmingham, Sheffield and Leeds this September.
Deborah Ball has been appointed headteacher of the new Kingsway Park High School in Rochdale, which will open in September 2010. Ms Ball will lead the new foundation school, currently under construction, following the amalgamation of Balderstone Technology College and Springhill High School. She is currently acting headteacher at Blakewater College in Blackburn.
TIM GILL
Tim Gill has been awarded an honorary doctorate from Edge Hill University in Lancashire.
Mr Gill, who was director of Play England from 1997 to 2004, has advised political parties and worked with the Mayor of London as well as with agencies such as Barnardo’s, the Forestry Commission and the National Trust.
He has travelled in Europe, the US, Australasia and Japan to lecture on his work, which focuses on children’s play and what they do in their free time.
