Great Yarmouth secondment

As you will know, the Education and the Social Services Departments are currently involved in a wide range of work within the Great Yarmouth area. From February 1st this will continue and develop further with the establishment of Children's Services.

Given the pace and range of developments in the Borough, there is a clear need for more dedicated time from the Authority. It has, therefore, been decided to second Richard Potts, currently the Senior Education Officer for School Effectiveness, to be based in Great Yarmouth where he will act as Great Yarmouth Co-ordinator. His role will be to co-ordinate the development of national strategies for educational effectiveness and improvement, the contribution of schools and education to the Local Strategic Partnership and the development of the vision for Children's Services in the area. More specifically, he will be supporting a range of programmes which include the Excellence Cluster operative from April 2005, the associated Behaviour Improvement Programme and the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund all of which will build on the successful work of the Education Action Zone.

His role will complement the work of Bill Russell as SISO and J'anne Robertson as Senior Adviser for School Effectiveness. As a rule of thumb, Richard will be working on the development side whereas Bill and J'anne will continue to deal with the matters they currently deal with. Richard will be based in the Yarmouth area for at least four days a week, although there will be occasions when his work in respect of the development of Children's Services will require him to be at County Hall.

Richard has already started the process of making local contacts and will be at the Headteachers' meeting at 4.30 pm on 3rd February at the Imperial Hotel when it will be possible to discuss his role further.