Carter confirmed as national school commissioner

The Department for Education has confirmed that the current regional schools commissioner for the south, Sir David Carter, will step up to the role of national commissioner.

Previously held by Frank Green, the role will involve managing the seven remaining Royal Schools Commissioners (RSCs), in addition to whoever replaces Carter.

The government’s Education and Adoption Bill will give RSCs responsibility for converting coasting and failing council-maintained schools into academies, while finding new sponsors for those academies which are not up to scratch.

However, concerns have already been raised about the system’s capacity to cope with the increased workload, while a plan to increase the resources available to the civil servants has been mooted.

In a statement, Carter described the job as a ‘wonderful opportunity to make a difference’ to the learning of children in England. He pledged that he would 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.”