Guernsey's education department chief takes on new role

Mr Neale said he would now focus on the redevelopment of island schools

Guernsey's Education Department has begun to look for a new chief officer, after the current officer moved to oversee a school rebuilding project.

Derek Neale has served as the director of education for 15 years.

His departure from the post comes two weeks before the presentation of a report on the education department, initiated after the publication of this year's GCSE results.

Education Minister Carol Steere said the timing was purely a coincidence.

She said: "This has always been in the planning and any suggestion otherwise would be absolutely wrong and I want to make that clear."

In a letter to the department's staff, Mr Neale said he planned to spend his final few years before retirement overseeing the completion of Les Beaucamps High School and planning the redevelopment of the La Mare de Carteret schools.