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Sir David Carter to lead charge on coasting schools in national commissioner role

Sir David Carter has vowed to “challenge all schools to perform better” after being appointed as the next national schools commissioner today.

The Department for Education has this afternoon confirmed that the current regional schools commissioner for the south west will step up to the role, held by Frank Green since February 2014, at the end of January.

Carter, previously chief executive of the Cabot Learning Federation, will take on responsibility for managing the seven remaining RSCs, and whoever replaces him, at a critical time.

The government’s education and adoption bill, currently on its way through the House of Lords, will give RSCs responsibility for converting coasting and failing council-maintained schools and finding new sponsors for those academies which are not up to scratch.

But doubts have been raised about the capacity within the existing system to cope with the increased workload, and a plan to increase the resources available to the civil servants has been mooted.

In a statement released today, Sir David described the job as a “wonderful opportunity to make a difference” to the learning of children in England, and said he aimed to work with RSCs, academy leaders and trustees to “challenge all schools to perform better”.

Schools minister Lord Nash said: “David Carter has already made an outstanding contribution to the government’s academy reforms in the south west as one of our first Regional Schools Commissioners.

“His considerable expertise as an outstanding school leader makes him the ideal choice to build on the significant legacy of Frank Green as the national schools commissioner.”

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  1. Really good news. David Carter’s heart is in the right place (focused on children and young people) and he has really grown into the role of Schools Commissioner in the South West. I shall be sorry to see him leave Bristol but think this is great news for English schools.