KENT EDUCATION BOSS RETIRES

A couple of weeks of senior figures, announcing their departure from important posts at Kent Council, must be of some concern to those of us who live in Kent. Tuesday an announcement was made concerning the retirement of Graham Badman Managing Director of Children, Families and Education a highly respected and important figure in education and childrens services.

Now people come and go from any organisation, but since education is one of those core areas that we expect the best, from our county council, this must be a time to ask Paul Carter & Peter Gilroy, what's occurring.

The point is that, as I mentioned in the space of a couple of weeks education has seen its cabinet head Chris Wells resign, two of its directors leave taking early retirement, and now the Graham Badman retire, which surely cannot benefit Kent's kids.

As someone who knows little about these matters, its a little disturbing to see such a significant loss of top management in as I say one of the core functions of local government, if I were referring to some of Kent Councils mission creep areas (things KCC doesn't need to involve itself, but does) like temp agencies, bus companies, health watch call centres and of course Kent TV* then who would give a second thought.

I'll leave you with these words from Chris Wells, who has until couple of weeks ago worked closely with Graham Badman

‘Working with Graham, with his hard earned national reputation, and forthright advice, was undoubtedly one of the best elements of being a Cabinet Member. His insight, motivation, and energy are an exemplar for us all. His ability to make, and win, a case with government is something few can, or will, live up to. It is chiefly because of Graham’s work that Kent’s educational reputation is at an all time high.

In particular he has worked constantly not only to raise the standards of education for the young people of our county, and to make all aware of the consequences of poverty and deprivation, but also to create an effective working directorate of combined education and children’s social services. He has assimilated the two elements brilliantly, and they are now ready for full and proper integration, in line with the vision of the 2004 Children Act, and as envisaged when Children Families and Education was originally formed. Kent are ahead of many of the national attempts to achieve this goal, and we must all be wary of any move from siren voices to take us back to separation of responsibility for child safety, and the silo approaches of the past.

I know that Graham’s talents will be in much demand, and I am sure we will all hear much from him again, in other roles, in the future. I wish him well, and will miss both his accurate advice and wicked sense of humour.’

* In referring to Kent TV I do mean any contractor paid for by the local taxpayer to provide service purely KCC