DfE has not tried to revise contract with free school meals voucher provider, perm sec says
25 Jan Education
DfE has not tried to revise contract with free school meals voucher provider, perm sec says
Officials found no “strong market alternative” to Edenred, permanent secretary says
Education secretary ‘absolutely disgusted’ by contractor’s school-meal parcel
13 Jan Education
Education secretary ‘absolutely disgusted’ by contractor’s school-meal parcel
Gavin Williamson says DfE will name and shame firms not delivering against its standards as voucher scheme is reintroduced
Ofqual chair steps down after 'difficult summer'
17 Dec 2020 Education
Ofqual chair steps down after 'difficult summer'
Roger Taylor hands in his notice, citing A-Level grades row
Susan Acland-Hood to stay on as DfE perm sec
07 Dec 2020 Education
Susan Acland-Hood to stay on as DfE perm sec
Ex-HM Courts and Tribunals Service chief brings 'a wealth of experience to the role', says cab sec Simon Case
DfE ‘doesn’t know’ if free school meals voucher company made profit
03 Dec 2020 Education
DfE ‘doesn’t know’ if free school meals voucher company made profit
NAO says contractor charged department face value for supermarket vouchers but obtained them at discount
DWP jobs boost confirmed in Spending Review
25 Nov 2020 Education
DWP jobs boost confirmed in Spending Review
Rishi Sunak provides funds to double number of work coaches in £1.4bn coronavirus support uplift
Government has ‘misread the mood of the country’ on free school meals says ex-PACAC chair
26 Oct 2020 Education
Government has ‘misread the mood of the country’ on free school meals says ex-PACAC chair
Bernard Jenkin says PM’s refusal to extend scheme had become ‘a touchstone of how little faith a lot of people now have in the government's conduct’
Officials win plaudits for statistical excellence
21 Oct 2020 Education
Officials win plaudits for statistical excellence
MHCLG, the Scottish Fiscal Commission, Ofsted and ONS teams lauded for work with data
Post-pandemic policymaking 'must go beyond following the science', professors say
02 Oct 2020 Education
Post-pandemic policymaking 'must go beyond following the science', professors say
British Academy project sets out ‘five principles to draw on "full breadth of knowledge" for policy
DfE seeks perm sec with 'political sensitivity and personal resilience' to succeed Slater
24 Sep 2020 Education
DfE seeks perm sec with 'political sensitivity and personal resilience' to succeed Slater
Up to £162,500 on offer for job vacated following a row over A-Level grades last month
Education secretary fails to back officials over A-Level grades row
17 Sep 2020 Education
Education secretary fails to back officials over A-Level grades row
Gavin Williamson would not be drawn on whether he was happy with the advice he had been given by senior DfE officials
A-Level row: 'It's unlikely we could ever have delivered this policy successfully,' Ofqual chair says
03 Sep 2020 Education
A-Level row: 'It's unlikely we could ever have delivered this policy successfully,' Ofqual chair says
Roger Taylor said it was Gavin Williamson's decision to use algorithm, but Ofqual is "ultimately responsible for the decisions that fall to us".
Officials are 'carrying the can for ministers' failure', says ex-civil service head – as unions blast Slater sacking
27 Aug 2020 Education
Officials are 'carrying the can for ministers' failure', says ex-civil service head – as unions blast Slater sacking
Boris Johnson accused of throwing civil servants "under the bus" by firing DfE perm sec
Slated for success: DfE perm sec Jonathan Slater on delivery, directions and dancing
27 Aug 2020 Education
Slated for success: DfE perm sec Jonathan Slater on delivery, directions and dancing

Moving to the education department brought Jonathan Slater back to a policy area he knows and loves. He speaks to Suzannah Brecknell about his key role in helping the frontline function
DfE perm sec Jonathan Slater sacked over A-Level row
26 Aug 2020 Education
DfE perm sec Jonathan Slater sacked over A-Level row
Slater is second senior official to stand down after the qualifications fiasco, while education secretary Gavin Williamson stays on
Ofqual chief Sally Collier quits after exam-grading debacle
25 Aug 2020 Education
Ofqual chief Sally Collier quits after exam-grading debacle
Regulator says outgoing boss believes next stage of awarding process will be “better overseen by new leadership”
A-Level row: Stats society criticises Ofqual's 'desperate' defence of NDA that 'would have gagged experts for five years'
25 Aug 2020 Education
A-Level row: Stats society criticises Ofqual's 'desperate' defence of NDA that 'would have gagged experts for five years'
Watchdog chair says RSS caused “misunderstanding and suspicion of Ofqual’s process” after experts refused to sign gagging clause
DfE drafts in second perm sec to support response to A-Level grade row
24 Aug 2020 Education
DfE drafts in second perm sec to support response to A-Level grade row
HMCTS chief brought in “to ensure that the government is able to respond fully to exam results, whilst also ensuring the return of schools in September”
DfE gives full backing to Ofqual over A-Level and GCSE grade fiasco after Gavin Williamson refused to
20 Aug 2020 Education
DfE gives full backing to Ofqual over A-Level and GCSE grade fiasco after Gavin Williamson refused to
DfE says it has "full confidence" in exam regulator as it emerges the department was warned the grading system could lead to incorrect results
No. 10 ‘orders rapid review’ of evidence on coronavirus school transmissions ahead of September return
11 Aug 2020 Education
No. 10 ‘orders rapid review’ of evidence on coronavirus school transmissions ahead of September return
Review comes as PM says 'education is the priority for the country, and that is simple social justice'
Disadvantaged workers being ‘failed’ by apprenticeships system, government advisers warn
24 Jun 2020 Education
Disadvantaged workers being ‘failed’ by apprenticeships system, government advisers warn
“This is an easy win for the government in its attempts at levelling up – if it can get this right," SMC chair says
More than 100 furloughed workers join civil service as volunteers to tackle Covid-19
16 Jun 2020 Education
More than 100 furloughed workers join civil service as volunteers to tackle Covid-19

Volunteers are ‘using their skills for the greater good’, chief people officer says
All the key changes to England's lockdown that kick in today
01 Jun 2020 Education
All the key changes to England's lockdown that kick in today

PM says 'cautious' changes to England's lockdown are being made today
DfE appoints top Theresa May adviser to its board
17 Apr 2020 Education
DfE appoints top Theresa May adviser to its board

Nick Timothy joins education department three years after snap election that cost him his job