The county's new schools chief is to be Rosalind Turner, who will join the county council as managing director of children, families and education in May.

Mrs Turner is currently the director for children and young people at Suffolk County Council. She succeeds Graham Badman, who retired from the role last year.

Before joining Suffolk, she spent eight years at Brighton and Hove City Council, initially as assistant director for lifelong learning before being promoted to assistant director of children, schools and families.

She began her career in 1983 as a teacher and sixth form tutor in East Sussex.

She said her appointment to Kent represented a huge challenge: "This post represents a significant opportunity and I am looking forward to building on the good work already under way.

"Learning and skills is a high priority and with the protection and well-being of children firmly in the national spotlight, the public are understandably calling for the very highest standards in their children’s services."

County council leader Paul Carter said: "Rosalind is a highly regarded leader and her record speaks for itself.

"Her experience will help us deliver a number of aims and aspirations in Kent from delivering the biggest Building Schools for the Future programme to our trailblazing 14 to 24 vocational scheme."

Cllr Leyland Ridings (Con), cabinet member for children, families and education standards said: "It was a unanimous decision to appoint Rosalind as she was an outstanding candidate, who received complete cross-party support."