THE man who presided over the decline and fall of Denbighshire’s education service has finally left his post. Huw Griffiths, Corporate Director of Lifelong Learning, has tendered his resignation with effect from this week after almost a year’s sick leave. He had been on full pay for the first six months, from October 9, 2007, and on half pay after that. A month after he went on leave, Welsh education minister Jane Hutt handed overall control of the education service to an independent board. According school inspectors Estyn, education while under Mr Griffiths was below average at ages seven, 11 and 16, and “leaders at all levels in the authority, over a long period of time, had not addressed robustly and comprehensively enough the continual poor performance of schools.” At the time, Mr Griffiths said: “I am very frustrated not to be able to come into work for the next two weeks but I must follow the advice of my doctor.” But after a 12-month absence, he has at last formally given up the post. A Denbighshire spokesman said: “The council is pleased that his health has recovered recently. “Mr Griffiths has decided that he does not wish to return to his role with the council, and the council has accepted this.” Dr Mohammed Mehmet, a Turkish speaker and former education director at the London Borough of Islington, was appointed through an agency as interim Corporate Director and will continue in the role until Mr Griffiths’ successor is decided. Mr Griffiths joined the council in 2005 and served only 15 months before his sick leave started. Estyn’s damning 2007 report was published only two days after another critical report by education consultants Cambridge was made public. Council officials had claimed they were suffering the effects of years of underfunding from the Welsh Assembly Government. Write to Visitor Letters, Vale Road, Llandudno Junction, LL31 9SL. | 
Article
