The unexpected departure of the politician in charge of education in Kent has been confirmed in a County Hall cabinet re-shuffle.

The departure of Cllr Chris Wells as cabinet member for children's services comes just after the county’s schools posted some of their best-ever GCSE results.

He quit his post to return to the backbenches, prompting county council leader Paul Carter (Con) to shake up his top team.

Cllr Roger Gough, who was cabinet member for regeneration and supporting independence, has also resigned to concentrate on his job as a research director for a Conservative think-tank, Policy Exchange.

The resignation of Cllr Wells has surprised some as he had only been in the post for just over a year. He was brought in to replace Cllr John Simmonds, who was sacked.

He declined to comment about the reasons for his decision but said: “It has been a great privilege to work with some of the very best education professionals in achieving greater things for young people that would have been unimaginable a few years ago.”

Cllr Carter said: “Chris Wells has chosen to spend more time running his consultancy business and feels he needs to focus on working on local issues in the run-up to the county election next year, recognising the marginal nature of his county division in Margate.”

The departure of Cllr Wells has seen a return to the cabinet for Cllr Leyland Ridings, who takes on the role.

In other changes, Cllr Kevin Lynes moves from adult social services to become cabinet member for regeneration while Cllr Graham Gibbens moves from public health to adult social services. The public health job is taken over by newcomer Cllr Alan Marsh, who represents Herne and Sturry.