THE woman in charge of education in Middlesbrough is moving on.

Barbara Comiskey, currently corporate director of education for Middlesbrough Council, has been appointed to the post of director of education by Sunderland City Council.

She began her career as a classroom assistant at a Cheshire primary school in 1973, before becoming an English teacher in Greater Manchester.

Ms Comiskey has held several high level education posts within local authorities, including county education advisor for Durham County Council, and lives with her family in Stokesley, North Yorkshire.

She said: "I am delighted to join Sunderland. I am really looking forward to meeting school and council colleagues and getting on with the job.

"The more I see of Sunderland, the more I like."