A former head teacher, accountant and local government officer has taken control of the £500 million a year public body Education and Learning Wales (ELWa).

Elizabeth Raikes has taken up her post as chief executive of ELWa, the body responsible for planning, funding and promoting all post-16 learning, apart from higher education.

She will be supported by a new management team, and has pledged to create an “exemplary organisation" capable of working in partnership with other agencies to deliver better learning opportunities for people in Wales.

Mrs Raikes, who has been chief executive of Monmouthshire County Council for the past three years, said local authorities would be among ELWa’s key partners in achieving positive change over the coming years.

The body is currently preparing to introduce a new national planning and funding system, which is intended, over time, to reshape Wales' post-16 learning structure to ensure it reflects more accurately the knowledge and skill needs of local areas and the Welsh economy.

Mrs Raikes called the system would "a major undertaking", but added that it promised to bring immense benefits to people, communities and businesses in Wales.

"It can only come about through close co-operation, openness and goodwill between all parties with a stake in learning," she said.

"I am determined to build up confidence in ELWa among these partners so we can pursue this huge challenge on the basis of consensus."