Newcastle appoints new executive director of Children's Services

Newcastle City Council has appointed John Collings as executive director of Children's Services.

Collings has held the position on a temporary basis since July 2009 overseeing all aspects of children's services in the city, including schools, children's social care, services for families and chairing the Newcastle Children's Trust Board.

He originally joined the council as Children's Services director of Delivering Outcomes in April 2008, having been deputy director of Children's Services at Hartlepool Borough Council and having previously worked as a teacher, school improvement advisor, Ofsted inspector and assistant director of education.

He succeeds Catherine Fitt, who last year became strategic director for Children's Services for the National College of School Leadership.