THE new director of education for Swindon Council has been announced.

Hilary Pitts, 51, will earn more than £100,000, a price the council was willing to pay for a "dynamic leader".

Her appointment was recommended by private company Tribal Education, which took over Swindon's education department following its disastrous report by Government inspectors Ofsted.

She will take up her post in October and work alongside Tribal's director of education before taking control of the Local Education Authority herself.

She said: "There are challenges ahead and I am looking forward to making a difference within the Swindon education community.

"I am totally committed to improving the quality of education for all within Swindon."

Her most recent post was head of education in the London borough of Southwark.