ADVERTS have been placed in the national press to fill vacancies at the top of the City of York Council's education department.

The move means that the top of the department should finally be fully staffed by early in the New Year, after a year of change which saw the departure of the former director and deputy director, Mike Peters and Chris Edwards.

The new director of education and leisure, Patrick Scott, is now at the helm in York, and three assistant directors are to be appointed over the next few months, to join the existing assistant director, Craig Shaw.

Two of the vacancies have been advertised in the Times Educational Supplement.

The first is for a new head for the education development service, responsible for helping teachers and schools to improve pupils' achievements. This post has been vacant since April.

The second assistant director will be responsible for "access and inclusion", which covers areas ranging from school admissions to cutting down exclusions. Murray Rose is currently acting assistant director in this area.

There will also be a new assistant director for leisure and lifelong learning, taking responsibility for the council's leisure facilities as well as adult education, performing arts and early years' education. This post will be advertised in the next few days. Charlie Croft is currently acting head of the leisure office.

Coun Janet Looker, executive member for education, said: "We're looking forward to getting a new team in place so that by the New Year, we will be fully up and running."