Bell’s appointment wins wide approval

Campaigners have welcomed David Bell as the new top civil servant at the Department for Education and Skills.

The former chief inspector of schools, who has replaced David Normington as permanent secretary, has been a teacher, head teacher and director of education.

Chris Waterman, executive director of the Confederation of Children’s Services Managers, said Bell would “bring a breath of fresh air” to the government. And Chris Mills, child protection policy adviser to the NSPCC, said: “It will be good to have a permanent secretary who has worked with children directly.”