AN EDUCATION group which oversees five schools and colleges in Oxfordshire has announced a new chief executive will take over next year.

Sally Dicketts will be succeeded by Gary Headland on April 1, following 18 years at the helm.

Mr Headland joins from the Lincoln College Group (LCG), where he was chief executive for more than seven years.

Prior to his appointment at LCG, he has spent time as a director at Norfolk Constabulary and was a senior Royal Air Force officer for nearly 23 years.

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He said: “I am honoured and proud to be invited to lead Activate Learning through the next phase of its distinguished history.

“I am very much looking forward to working closely with the Activate Learning team to achieve our shared and compelling vision of achieving far-reaching, progressive change and impact through learning.”

Ms Dicketts, who has worked in further education for more than 35 years, was awarded a CBE in the Queen’s Honours List in 2013.

She said: “It was a very hard decision for me to retire from doing a job that I love after being with the organisation for so long, however I know that this is the right time for me to move on. 

“I’ve loved being part of Activate Learning and I know that Gary will love working here as much as I have.”

Activate Learning has also agreed to explore the potential of a merger with LCG.

Activate Learning already oversees Banbury and Bicester College, Bicester Technology Studio, City of Oxford College, The Bicester School and UTC Oxfordshire in the county.