Commenting on his appointment, Peter said “I am delighted to be taking up this post at such an exciting time in the development of services for children and learners, and have the opportunity to help realise the enormous potential of the current reforms. The key to the success of the newly formed Children and Learners function within the Government Office for the South East will be to ensure that whatever we do adds value to the work of our partners both locally and nationally and, most importantly, has a positive impact on the lives of children, young people and adult learners. I very much look forward to joining the team in Guildford and meeting and working with our partners throughout the South East.”
In November 2004, the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) announced an enhanced role for Government Offices to help deliver the Department’s ambitious programme of reform. Changes made would build on and improve the contribution DfES makes to the wider government agenda, and provide a better service to our customers – children, young people and learners. The Future Role of Government Offices (FROGO) project, started in January 2005, supports these changes.
As Director for Children and Learners in the South East Peter’s key responsibilities will be to:
- drive the implementation of strategic change and new policy direction
- ensure effective management of programmes
- support performance
- provide local and regional input to national policies and developing policy
Peter has worked in local government since 1987 and will join the Government Office for the South East from his current post in East Sussex County Council, where he is Assistant Director of the Children & Young People Division of the Children’s Services Department. He was recently seconded to the Chief Executive’s Department of East Sussex County Council to lead work on developing the Safer and Stronger Communities aspects of the County’s Local Area Agreement. Peter has made contributions at a national level to Child Protection and allegations against staff, to the built environment for children with special educational needs, and to Ofsted inspection reforms. He is married with two daughters.
Peter will take up post in the Government Office for the South East in December 2005.
