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A message from Matt Dunkley CBE:

11 December 2020 weekly update

11 December 2020

This week, Matt announces the permanent appointments for two directors in CYPE and shares the two letters sent to schools today.

Dear Colleagues

Letters to schools - 11 December 2020

As we move towards the final days of term there have been a couple of significant Government announcements which affect schools and these have been summarised in my letter sent to all schools at lunchtime (PDF, 141.8 KB) and secondary schools this afternoon (PDF, 120.4 KB).

New Permanent Director Appointments in CYPE

You will be forgiven if you cannot remember, but way-back on 7 February in my e-bulletin, I informed you about important changes that were taking place across the CYPE Directorate bringing together key services to significantly influence how we work as a Directorate and our overall improvement journey. By bringing services together more coherently, enabled us to create two new Director posts (including the deletion of the previous Director Education, Planning and Access post) and I am pleased to confirm that following the conclusion of a competitive recruitment process that we have just appointed to these two new Director posts.

Mark Walker was appointed to the new post of Director SEN and Disability, by the Member Panel. Mark has been acting as the Interim Director of SEN and Disability and will transition into the role permanently with immediate effect.

Christine McInnes has been appointed as the new Director of Education, by the Member Panel. Christine is currently Director Education and Partnerships at Tower Hamlets Council, and will take up her post in early March. My warmest congratulations go to Mark and Christine.

David Adams will continue as Interim Director of Education until Christine’s arrival. I am very grateful to David for the superb way in which he has covered the Director post since March this year and will continue to do so until Christine arrives, and for the characteristic professionalism and dedication to schools, children, parents and key partners he has shown. Similarly my thanks go to colleagues who are covering posts on an acting basis in both Divisions, and now the Director appointments have been made we will soon be able to establish a timeline for making permanent appointments to the rest of the structure.

View the updated CYPE Structure Chart (PDF, 179.8 KB).

Update Videos

We have a created a number of short videos that will be available next week to provide you with updates on some key areas. This includes an overview of the Draft SEN Strategy Consultation; an update on the EEFective Kent Project; an update from the School Funding Forum; and TEP’s Self-care for Headteachers, Wellbeing offer and the WER whole school programme. There is also a personal thank you and Christmas message from Alan Brookes on behalf of KAH and a separate one from me. I realise that these will not be high on your priority list, but if you do need an update or signposting to support, please view them and do let me have your feedback.

I wish you all a well-earned relaxing and peaceful Christmas and New Year break. I look forward to seeing you all in 2021 when hopefully we may be moving forward to some sense of normality.

Matt Dunkley CBE
Corporate Director
Children, Young People and Education