A COUNCIL'S education department that was stripped of its executive powers following an inspector's report, will now be taken over by two specially appointed commissioners this month.

Blaenau Gwent was criticised in July by an Estyn inspector saying that the authority's children did not make good progress in their schools and standards are well below what is expected.

The report also highlighted a 'systemic failure of management' leading to poor value for money, and a 'history of instability' in the leadership of education services.

As a result the council's executive member for education, Stephen Bard resigned and now Welsh Government education minister Leighton Andrews has given Isobel Garner, former chief executive of Wrexham County Council and Bethan Guilfoyle, a former head teacher of Treorchy Comprehensive School, the responsibility in overseeing all of Blaenau Gwent's education functions.

They will supervise the work of a taskforce, which was set up by a team put together by Neath Port Talbot Council to make the necessary improvements required to bring educational standards up in Blaenau Gwent.

The team will be supported by Nerys Evans, a former AM, and Alan Evans of Cardiff University who are the Welsh Government's advisory education commissioners.