Victoria Ashfield, Cumbria County Council's Corporate Director for Education is to take early retirement at the end of September. She had also decided not to re-apply for the post of Corporate Director of Children's Services with the council.
Peter Stybelski, Chief Executive of the county council says:
"Since joining Cumbria in 2003 Victoria has successfully led the education directorate. During her time here she has done an excellent job and takes a lot of credit for the continued increase in education performance at a time of great change and challenge. Her colleagues and everyone connected with the council wish her well for the future."
Victoria Ashfield, who joined Cumbria County Council from Durham County Council in September 2003, says:
'I am proud and pleased to have been able to work for the children and families of Cumbria for the last two years. I have enjoyed every moment of being the Corporate Director for Education and I feel a great sense of pride that in my role I have been able to work with headteachers, teachers and governors to develop the County's Education Service. I would like to pay special credit to all those staff in the Education Directorate who have been such wonderful colleagues and have made Education in Cumbria as successful as it has become.
This opportunity for early retirement gives me the chance to stay in the Education world to which I am so committed and to take up new challenges within Strategic Management, and I sincerely wish the very best for the continuing success of the colleagues working so tirelessly for children here."
County councillor, Philip Chappelhow spokesman for children's services says:
"In the past two years I have been impressed with the way Victoria has developed good working relationships with councillors. During her time here she has always had the best interests of the young people of the county at the forefront of everything she has achieved. I wish her well for the future in whatever she chooses to do."