The outgoing leader of the diocesan education team has thanked pupils and staff for their hard work and dedication.
Gill Booth will step down from her role as Interim Diocesan Director of Education (DDE) for Durham and Newcastle dioceses at the end of December. David Akers, the former headteacher at Ward Jackson CofE Primary in Hartlepool, will take over the DDE role on a permanent basis from early January.
It has been a busy 15 months since Gill was appointed to lead the Joint Education Team (JET) for both Durham and Newcastle dioceses in September 2023.
But Gill, who is semi-retiring, is delighted to announce that she will continue to work one day per week with both dioceses as a strategic consultant.
“I want to say a big thank you to the pupils and staff across all of our schools,” she said. “They work incredibly hard and are living up to their foundations as church schools.”
The framework for the Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools (SIAMS) has changed since Gill started her post, yet all schools have continued to meet the required standards.
Gill added: “It has been a privilege to serve our church school communities – and also to lead our excellent JET team which has a wealth of professional skills to support our schools.”
Another highlight for Gill has been the success of education conferences, which have taken place with different themes, including personal development; early years; and equality, diversity, inclusion & justice.
Gill, who previously served as a headteacher and CEO in the North East, is pleased to welcome another experienced school leader in David as her successor.
She added: “David brings experience of leadership in church schools and a genuine interest in enabling children and young people to grow both educationally and spiritually. I wish David and the team every success from January onwards, as they seek to support our schools in living out their Christian vision.”
Pictured above: Gill Booth welcomes David Akers.