New president takes office

Brian Lightman was officially welcomed as 2007-08 ASCL president at the annual handover ceremony at headquarters on 29 August. Brian has been head of St Cyrus School, a mixed 11-18 comprehensive with 1,500 pupils in Penarth, Vale of Glamorgan, since 1999.

Prior to that he worked for 16 years in three 11-18 mixed comprehensive schools in the south east of England before becoming head of Llantwit Major School in 1995. As a trained linguist, his main teaching subject is German.

Brian started his ASCL career as a branch secretary in 1996 and joined Council in 1998. Prior to serving as ASCL vice president last year, he was honorary treasurer from 2003-06 and president of SHA Cymru in 2003-04. For the last several years, he has sat on the funding committee.

He has picked the theme 'leading professionals' for his presidential year.

Brian is joined by Jane Lees, head of Hindley Community High School in Wigan, as vice president.

For more information on all the 2007-08 ASCL Council representatives and officers, members can go to the website at www.ascl.org.uk Log in to the members' area and click on 'ASCL national'.