This weekâs featured personalities spotlight an Olympic wrestler, a passionate Lego enthusiast, and a former tree logger.
This weekâs featured personalities spotlight an Olympic wrestler, a passionate Lego enthusiast, and a former tree logger.
This weekâs featured personalities spotlight an Olympic wrestler, a passionate Lego enthusiast, and a former tree logger.
This column serves as our bi-weekly update on significant moves within the educational community.
We encourage submissions regarding high-level appointments. Please send details to news@schoolsweek.co.uk with âMovers and Shakersâ in the subject line.
Mark Cocker
CEO at Education Partnership Trust (EPT)
Start date: September
Previous position: Deputy CEO, EPT
Fun fact: Mark has competed in Olympic wrestling for Great Britain at European and world championships, and the Commonwealth Games in 2010.
Rachel Hames
Education outreach manager at Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors (CICES)
Start date: September
Previous position: Teacher at Cragside Church of England Primary School, Northumberland
Fun fact: During the Covid pandemic, Rachel discovered a passion for Lego and has since amassed an impressive collection, even starting a small business to share her interest with other enthusiasts.
Ben Dunne
Director of early years, education and skills at Bury Council
Start date: September
Previous position: Assistant director of school improvement and pupil progression at Islington Council
Fun fact: Ben once worked as a tree logger while traveling in Australia, where he had to hide his fear of spiders from tough coworkers when a giant Huntsman spider would crawl on him.
Highlighted Appointment
Matt Hood, the founder of Oak National Academy, will now lead a new âdelivery unitâ within the Department of Health and Social Care aimed at reducing hospital wait times and improving GP access.
He has recently been appointed as a senior advisor to Health Secretary Wes Streeting, as reported by Schools Week.
His new role involves overseeing the delivery unit within the Department of Health and Social Care, focusing on monitoring and ensuring the fulfillment of crucial NHS targets, including lowering hospital wait times and improving access to GP services.
A previous job advertisement for this role highlighted the need for a âlaser-like focusâ on reform efforts across health and care, particularly in areas deemed most important by the public.
The team will consist of various internal and external hires, combining knowledge of the health sector with expertise in strategic change and policy execution.
Direct ministerial appointment
Hoodâs position is a direct ministerial appointment, meaning it falls under the Secretary of Stateâs office. He commenced this paid role last month.
The DHSC noted that Streeting is focused on delivering reforms during a transformative period for the Department and NHS England.
Hood will collaborate with the departmentâs delivery unit to help ensure that government commitments are met, while providing guidance on emerging issues.
Previously, Hood served at Oak, a curriculum quango managed by the government, which he departed earlier this year.
It is understood that he has also stepped back from other educational roles, such as his involvement in Ofstedâs curriculum reference group.
Interestingly, Hoodâs husband, Josh MacAlister, was appointed childrenâs minister in September.
Before starting this new job, Hood worked with a charity to implement educational reforms in Australia.
Prior to his tenure at Oak, he held the position of chief education officer at Ambition Institute and was an assistant headteacher in Morecambe after graduating from the Teach First program.
In recognition of his contributions to education, Hood was awarded an OBE in 2020.
Group Director of Quality â The Bedford College Group
FEA
Chief Executive Officer
Wigston Academies Trust
Financial Controller â Loreto Sixth Form College
FEA
Initial Teacher Training Programme Lead
Scarborough Sixth Form College
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