A Cambridge graduate and former head of Acland Burghley comprehensive, Mr O’Hear is currently assistant director of education for Camden, where he leads the London borough’s partnership with schools to raise pupil achievement and is chief inspector for the LEA. He also has overall responsibility for the youth service and adult education contracts as well as managing the early-years service.

A regular broadcaster and lecturer, he has recently been working with the Department for Education and Employment on support for schools causing concern.

The King Edward Foundation in Birmingham has appointed Peter Limm as the new head of the King Edward VI Five Ways School, one of its five grant-maintained grammars in the city. Mr Limm, who is currently head of Rainham Mark grammar school in Kent, will take up his new post in September. He succeeds the Reverend John Knowles, who is to become rector of Hutchesons’ grammar in Glasgow.

Numbers at King Edward VI Five Ways school will rise from 770 to 1,050 over the next few years, as the former boys’ school becomes fully co-educational.

Judith Dorricott is to serve the King Edward Foundation as bailiff (chairman of the trustees) for the next year. A teacher, linguist and mother of three, she that says she endorses the foundation’s aims of keeping the grammar schools “open, selective and free.”

David Pinder has been appointed director of the Council for Education in World Citizenship. A former soldier who became head of public affairs for the United Nations in Bosnia and then a consular official, Mr Pinder has most recently served as chief executive to three large chambers of commerce and industry, including the British Chamber of Commerce in Germany.

A fluent German speaker, he is a member of the Institute of Linguists and the Institute of Public Relations and a fellow of the Institute of Personnel and Development.

Roger Jones is to become head of St George’s school, Windsor Castle, in succession to Roger Marsh. Mr Jones has been head of Davenies school in Beaconsfield since 1992. Alan Mould, a retired headteacher and currently president of the Incorporated Association of Preparatory Schools, will be acting head of St George’s next term until Mr Jones arrives in January.

Lindsey Jane Griffin has been appointed head of Central Newcastle High School, a member of the Girls’ Day School Trust (GDST). She will take up her post in January 2000 on the retirement of the present head, Angela Chapman. Mrs Griffin, who has a degree in English and a BPhil in medieval studies, is currently head of Bedgebury school, a boarding and day school for girls in Kent. She and her husband, a retired research engineer, have retained their home in Scarborough, where Mrs Griffin was formerly head of English and then head of the sixth form at Scarborough College.

Kenneth Young is to be the next chairman of the Further Education Funding Council for Wales . Mr Young, who retired as deputy chairman of the Post Office in 1992, has since been chairman of the Roehampton Institute of Higher Education, of the Student Loans Company and of the Further Education Development Agency. He replaces Dick Webster, who has been chairman since May 1995.

Martin Temple has been appointed director-general of the Engineering Employers’ Federation, with effect from tomorrow. Mr Temple has extensive UK and international experience within industry, most recently as vice-president of Avesta-Sheffield AB.

The new head of Lincoln Minster school, an independent co-ed school for 3 to 18-year-olds, is to be Clive Rickart. Mr Rickart, who has been head of Lincoln Minster preparatory school for the past three years, will succeed the current head, Maureen Bradley, in September. Mrs Bradley is to become head of The Atherley school in Southampton.

Manchester University has appointed David Gordon, currently director of special initiatives at the Wellcome Trust, as dean of the faculty of medicine, dentistry and nursing from September 1. Howard Barringer has been re-appointed pro-vice chancellor for two years, also from September.