OREANDA-NEWS. The principal of an outstanding school in Devon and chief executive officer (CEO) of a successful academy trust in the South West has been appointed as the new Chair of the National College for Teaching and Leadership (NCTL), Education Secretary Nicky Morgan announced today (12 October 2015).

Roger Pope, Principal of Kingsbridge Community College, Devon, and CEO of Academies South West, will take up the position of Chair of NCTL from today.

Roger has many years’ experience as a teacher and school leader. During his 25-year career he has taught English in schools across the south of England and in Hong Kong, formed a teaching school alliance of over 25 schools and was a member of the NCTL’s group in Shanghai examining maths and science practice. He is also a national leader of education.

Roger will play a critical role in NCTL by providing advice to the Secretary of State for Education on the development of national policy relating to the recruitment of teachers and school leaders.

Congratulating Roger on his appointment, Nicky Morgan said:

We are delighted to have someone of Roger’s calibre on board. He is a highly experienced and well respected school leader with a career spanning over 25 years.

His appointment will strengthen NCTL’s important work - ensuring we can continue to attract more high-quality people into the teaching profession, further expand school-led teacher training, and inspire ever greater standards of teaching and school leadership across the country.

I am looking forward to working with him so that we can drive forward further improvements in the school system.

Roger Pope said:

It is a great privilege to take on this role and continue as a serving school leader. I am very much looking forward to contributing to NCTL’s vital work in developing teachers and leaders.