Gary James, an ex-deputy head, has changed careers to take over as education and community officer of Chichester Harbour Education Service. Mr James has spent the past 22 years in secondary science education and was deputy head of Tiffin boys’ school in Kingston upon Thames. The service, which was set up in 2000, offers activities for curriculum-led school field trips.
Dr Joseph Spence has become master of Dulwich College in south London. Dr Spence graduated from Reading University and has a PhD at the University of London, taught history at Eton College and was master-in-college for 10 years. He was headmaster of Oakham School in Rutland before joining Dulwich. Dr Spence is a governor of St John’s College School in Cambridge and the Dragon School in Oxford. He takes over from Graham Able, who has retired. Mr Able, a graduate of Trinity College, Cambridge, and later of Durham University, taught at Sutton Valence School in Maidstone, Kent, and was deputy head of Barnard Castle School in County Durham. He was headteacher of Hampton School in Middlesex and became master of Dulwich College in 1997. He is the chair of the Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference, and sits on the Edexcel Foundation Council.
Nigel Lashbrook has become the new headmaster of Oakham College in Rutland, replacing Dr Spence. A graduate of Hertford College, Oxford, Mr Lashbrooke taught at Manchester Grammar School. He moved to Tonbridge School to be head of science and chemistry, then a boarding housemaster and, in 2000, second master. In 2004, he became head of King’s School, Bruton, in Somerset. Mr Lashbrook is also an inspector of schools.
Pooky Hesmondhalgh is now director of training at Creative Education, managing courses for teachers, leaders and support staff, and the company’s DVD training and online training arms. Ms Hesmondhalgh was previously the head of product development for the training provider. She is also doing a part-time PhD at the institute of psychiatry at King’s College London, developing training resources to assist school staff to support pupils with self-harming and eating disorders.
Terry Piggott, director of children’s services at Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council, is to join Becta as strategic director for children’s services. Becta is a government agency leading the national drive to ensure the effective and innovative use of technology throughout learning. Mr Piggott’s new role is a one-year post to broaden Becta’s offering from its traditional strength in education towards a wider children’s services context. Steve Titcombe, current head of children’s social care at Rochdale, will postpone his retirement to act as interim director of children’s services until the new year, when a successor to Mr Piggott is appointed.
DR REBECCA ALLEN
Dr Rebecca Allen, a lecturer in the economics of education at London University’s Institute of Education, has won the British Educational Research Association’s prize for the best PhD dissertation - an analysis of the consequences of allowing parents to choose their child’s school. She found that current school admissions increased segregation in schools in poor areas. Dr Allen specialises in school admissions policies, school accountability and governance, faith schools in education and competition between schools.
