Newham Council announced today (Monday 7 August) that Vik Verma, Director of Education, Inclusion and Achievement, has been appointed to the role of interim Corporate Director of Children and Young People’s Services as Mayor Fiaz and her administration accelerate child-friendly borough plans.
Vik Verma brings a wealth of senior leadership experience in Children and Young People services, and has a strong track-record delivering innovation and improvement, including turning-around services for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). He will be leading a committed team to sustain the solid foundations achieved in March 2022 when Ofsted rated Newham Children’s Service ‘good’ with ‘outstanding’ leadership following a three-year turnaround.
In his interim Corporate Director role, Vik will be tasked with driving plans to ensure that Newham becomes the best place for children and young people to grow up, be healthy and safe so that they reach their potential and thrive.
In his role as Newham’s Director of Education, Inclusion and Achievement, Vik has already achieved significant successes, including the inception of an ambitious new Education Vision for the borough currently out for consultation; and major improvements to the Council’s SEND services following an ‘inadequate’ rating issued by Ofsted in 2022.
Vik Verma, interim Corporate Director of Children and Young People Services said: “I am delighted to be taking on the role of interim Corporate Director of Children and Young People Services for Newham and for the opportunity to build on the incredible improvement journey already delivered in Newham.”
Colin Ansell, interim Chief Executive said: “We are thrilled to be appointing Vik to the role of interim Corporate Director of Children and Young People’s Services for Newham. Vik has already had an excellent impact on our SEND improvement journey and in establishing a new relationship with our parents and schools in his short time with us.”
Vik will assume his interim Corporate Director role and leadership responsibilities for Children and Young People’s Services on 14th August 2023, following the departure of Tim Aldridge the out-going Corporate Director of Children and Young People’s Services.