Former Brent DCS Gail Tolley to lead Oxfordshire education commission
Emily Harle
Monday, November 28, 2022
A new education commission for Oxfordshire, led by former director of children's services in Brent Gail Tolley, has been tasked with improving educational outcomes for all children and young people in the county.
The commission will be independent and is aimed at to determining what a “world class education system might look like for Oxfordshire”, and what changes are needed to make this happen.
It will use evidence of good practice taking place elsewhere, and investigate how this can be extended to all children and young people, to help reduce the attainment gap for children from disadvantaged backgrounds and those with special educational needs and disabilities.
Young people, families, educators and businesses will be among those consulted by the commission, Oxfordshire County Council has said..
Gail Tolley, former director of children’s services in Brent, north London, and former chair of the Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS) educational achievement policy committee, will lead the commission as independent chair.
Tolley has almost two decades of experience working in local government, prior to which she worked as a secondary school head teacher, a career which she said was dedicated to “supporting children and young people and empowering them to succeed.”
Tolley is also currently a member of the advisory board of the Rees Centre in the University of Oxford’s Department of Education, and a trustee of Orminston Families.
She said: “I am looking forward to working with commission members and stakeholders to support further improvements in educational outcomes for all of Oxfordshire’s children and young people.
“This is an exciting and timely opportunity to review and enhance local arrangements for collaboration and sustained success. The ambition of local young residents will be matched by that of the commission.”
Councillor Liz Brighouse, Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet member for children, education and youth services, added: “Currently 92 per cent of Oxfordshire pupils attend schools that are rated good or outstanding by Ofsted. Nationally the figure is 87 per cent.
“But we are determined to do even better. There is a gap in educational attainment for some of our most disadvantaged children and those children with special educational needs and disabilities.
“The education commission will allow Oxfordshire to reflect, further develop what’s working well, and learn from good practice both locally and across the country.”
