Dominic Herrington, the regional schools commissioner for the South East of England and South London, has been appointed interim national schools commissioner.

He will replace Sir David Carter, who announced he was standing down in April. 

The fact he is being appointed on an interim basis is in line with insider expectations revealed by Tes two weeks ago.

Mr Herrington will be taking over as national schools commissioner from September for an initial period of six months. 

In a statement published on its website, the Department for Education said: "The temporary appointment will provide continuity for academies across the country when Sir David Carter retires from the civil service after four years at the department."

The statement says that Mr Herrington will continue to work in the capacity as RSC for the South East of England and South London while leading the team of RSCs and overseeing "collaboration with the academy sector to nurture innovation and help improve education for every child".

Commenting on his appointment, Mr Henderson said: “I’m looking forward to working with the RSCs in seven other areas of England to build on Sir David Carter’s achievements by continuing to challenge and support school leaders.”

Mr Herrington began work as an RSC in July 2014. Prior to that, he was director of the academies group at the DfE.

During his civil service career, he has led a number of policies and programmes at the DfE including specialist schools, school improvement, 14-19 reform and education legislation.

In 2010 he went on secondment to the management consultancy firm Capgemini. 

Tes understands that Mr Herrington was appointed on an interim basis because ministers are still deciding exactly what role the national schools commissioner should have in the wake of major changes to the accountability system. 

The DfE is still yet to publish a formal job advert for the position.