New service director for education appointed by Cambridgeshire County Council

Sarah Callaghan has joined Cambridgeshire County Council as its new service director for education.

She has come from a similar position in Islington and started in Cambridgeshire on Monday.

Sarah started her career as a secondary school teacher in Burnley, Lancashire, in a school where 80 percent of children had English as a second language.

Her first senior local authority role was with Salford City Council as head of starting life, where she worked with education and health services across the 10 Greater Manchester authorities.

She then became operational director for Warrington Borough Council at a time when the Academy Act was being implemented, after which she became director of education for Lancashire County Council – the fourth largest local authority in the country and where she had responsibility for over 650 schools.

As director of education at Islington she led the implementation of the authority’s school organisation plan, responding to falling numbers of children in schools which had led to financial challenges making many of them unviable.

Sarah said: “Having enjoyed a number of diverse roles in contrasting local authorities, I am really looking forward to applying my experience and enthusiasm to this fantastic opportunity in Cambridgeshire.

“I always believe that the level of investment into a recruitment process reflects the level of investment in getting things right for children and after a very extensive grilling, I certainly feel that Cambridgeshire wants to deliver on their promises to support all children to thrive.

“It is this commitment that makes Cambridgeshire stand out as the right place to continue my career. Like every local authority across the country, it has its challenges - some of them quite significant.

“However, what I experienced in my research for this role is that there is a high level of commitment, skill, and motivation to deliver. I am really looking forward to working with you all to deliver the outcomes for children and young people that they deserve.”

Cllr Bryony Goodliffe, chair of Cambridgeshire’s children and young people’s committee added: “This is a demanding role with some formidable challenges ahead, but I am convinced Sarah is the right person for it. Her energy and commitment are matched by our own ambitions to do the very best we can for the children and young people of Cambridgeshire. She excelled in a strong field of candidates, and we look forward to welcoming her to Cambridgeshire.”