She's currently based in London where she has been the Director of Education Quality & Strategy at Hillingdon Borough Council since April 2015.

Guernsey's Committee for Education, Sport and Culture confirmed her relocation yesterday saying; "She has a thorough understanding of education practice; school leadership; local authority education policy delivery; the Ofsted inspection framework; and area-wide oversight of standards of education from nursery to post-16, special schools and alternative provision."

Ms Baker said:

“I am delighted to have been selected as the new Director of Education, in what is an incredibly exciting time for educational development on the island. I look forward to working alongside colleagues in education at all levels, as well as the Committee and community. Together we will continue the development of education in the Bailiwick and ensure that all children benefit from a quality of education that allows them to fulfil their potential, today and tomorrow.”

As well as her experience working across education from Early Years to Higher Education, ESC says Ms Baker's previous work has included senior strategic positions within local government, secondary schools and schools requiring improvement in the UK. Those roles have included Strategic Lead for Vulnerable Learners at Oxfordshire County Council, Head of SEND & Inclusion and Deputy Head Teacher; and she is an experienced school governor.

Pictured: St Sampson's and Les Beaucamps High Schools. 

As Director of Education, Ms Baker will be the most senior educationalist advising the Committee for Education, Sport and Culture. She's got quite a job ahead of her with the plans for the transformation of secondary education at an advanced stage. She will be leading the Education Office during this transformation as the island sees the closure of the four States run secondary schools under the selective model of education, and the opening of one all ability school over two sites. Those sites have already been earmarked as St Sampson's and Les Beaucamps, but even things such as the names of the campuses haven't been decided yet. 

Ms Baker will also be overseeing the integration of Further and Higher Education; the development of a new Education Law; and the plans to devolve leadership and governance to schools and colleges.

This work will all start in August this year, when Ms Baker moves to the island from Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, with her partner and two children. The current Director of Education, Andrew Warren, is due to leave his temporary post at the end of this month after just under a year in the role.

Pictured: Deputy Matt Fallaize, President of the Committee for Education, Sport & Culture.

Ms Baker will be working closely alongside the existing senior management team in Bailiwick Education, including the political board and Colette Falla, the Chief Secretary of the Committee for Education, Sport & Culture. She said:

“I am very pleased to welcome Laurie to the senior leadership team at this critical time. This is another positive step forward as we continue to work on the transformation of all areas of education. Laurie will be working alongside Executive Headteacher Liz Coffey and the newly appointed Designate Principals, Vicky Godley and Kieran James, as well as the Executive Principal for The Guernsey Institute.”

Deputy Matt Fallaize, President of the Committee for Education, Sport & Culture,said:

“Laurie has very broad experience of education in senior roles, including in localgovernment. In an excellent field of candidates, she made an outstanding impression at interview and at stakeholder events which we held as part of a rigorous selection process for the role of Director of Education. We are delighted that Laurie has accepted the role and look forward to her starting in post before the start of the next academic year. She will play a significant role in the future of education in the Bailiwick, including as the Committee’s most senior education advisor.”