Ofsted, the education watchdog, will get a new chief in April. David Bell is currently chief executive of Bedfordshire county council, and was previously education service director in Newcastle, following a swift rise from primary school teacher to headmaster in Essex. In Newcastle he was involved in improving some of the worst-rated schools in the country.

David Bell replaces Mike Tomlinson, who has held the post in an interim capacity since Chris Woodhead's resignation Chris Woodhead early last year. Bell's appointment has been welcomed by Woodhead. He is also reported to have close connections with New Labour, and was a guest a the famous "cool Britannia" Downing Street cocktail party in 1997.