Daily roundup 2 December: Leadership, child abuse, and Welsh commissioner

David Johnston has been appointed as Buckinghamshire County Council’s new managing director for children’s social care and learning. GetBucks reports that Johnston, who joined the authority as interim service director in December 2013, takes over the running of the troubled department from Sue Imbriano, who retired in September.


The former owner of children’s homes in Wrexham has been jailed for life after sexually abusing 19 children in his care. The Telegraph reports that 73-year-old John Allen was found guilty of abusing the children at three homes between 1969 and 1990 by a jury at Mold Crown Court.


A new children's commissioner for Wales may not be ready to take up the post when Keith Towler stands down in February, the Welsh government has confirmed. The BBC reports that communities minister Lesley Griffiths said the role is to be advertised "more widely" after a panel formed to make the appointment failed to agree on an appointment from candidates originally interviewed for the post.


Inspections of Muslim schools have declined in quality, with some failing to look closely enough at how well children are protected from extremism and radicalisation, Ofsted has said. The Times reports that Ofsted chief inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw criticised some of the work of the Bridge Schools Inspectorate in an annual report looking at inspection arrangements for private faith schools.


The Sutton Trust has called for more to be done to help the most able pupils in English state schools to reach their potential. The BBC reports that the charity fears too many bright 11-year-olds fail to maintain their early advantage or progress to higher education. It is calling for a national support programme for able pupils to replace the "gifted and talented" programme, which ended in 2011.


A nursery in Wolverhampton has launched an investigation after a three-year-old left the premises and walked home alone. The Express and Star reports that Springfield Infant School has assigned a staff member to other duties while the investigation takes place.