George Berwick has always said that this financial year would be his last as Chief Executive of Challenge Partners. As a result of Mark Goodchild’s decision to leave this year to travel abroad and explore new horizons following his recent marriage, George and the trustees have been in discussion about the best way to secure the senior structure of the organisation for the future. They have concluded that the right thing to do is to advertise in the autumn for a new, full-time Chief Executive.
George is of course fully committed to the future success of the organisation he was central to founding, and there will be good opportunity for handover and passing on of knowledge to the successful candidate in an induction period. We are pleased that George is happy to stay on in an advisory role. Dame Sue John will also of course continue to play an important leadership role into the future, and we have a capable central team, so there will be good continuity in the organisation.
Professor Sir George Berwick CBE has made a unique and inspirational contribution to education over many years, as head, executive head and chief executive. The work that he pioneered led to the development of Teaching Schools and to many aspects of the school-to-school support and leadership strategy of London Challenge. It is this work that we wanted to continue to develop with school leaders after the end of London Challenge and led to the foundation of Challenge Partners, which will remain a wonderful legacy for George.
We also recognise Mark’s work for Challenge Partners. He too has been an essential part of its development since its earliest months and the organisation could not have grown and developed as it has without his hard work, commitment and partnership with George in that time.