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With the end of 2015 in sight, we asked Whitehall's top officials to review the year, set out their priorities for 2016 – and shed some light on their festive plans. Richard Heaton, Ministry of Justice permanent secretary and civil service-wide Black and Minority Ethnic (BAME) champion, takes part in our biggest-ever perm secs' round-up series...

With the end of 2015 in sight, we asked Whitehall's top officials to review the year, set out their priorities for 2016 – and shed some light on their festive plans. HM Chief Inspector of Schools, Sir Michael Wilshaw, takes part in our biggest-ever perm secs' round-up series...

KPMG and Hay Group win first two lots as Cabinet Office makes changes to the way departments buy training courses

Register of members' interests shows that Labour MP gave lectures through Civil Service Learning scheme before becoming the party's leader

Ministers often criticise civil servants for not understanding the workings of Westminster. So what can officials do to ensure that parliament doesn’t leave them baffled? Sarah Aston reports

Tim Loughton says DfE officials questioned making a “special case” of the Kids Company charity – while Cabinet Office minister Oliver Letwin is quizzed on where the “buck stops” for its final round of public funding

New "Office for Students" and Teaching Excellence Framework among measures in business department's Green Paper

Senior officials Richard Heaton and Chris Wormald faced a tough time at PAC on Monday over the government's funding of Kids Company. Dan Corry – former head of the Number 10 Policy Unit and now chief executive of New Philanthropy Capital – argues that the charity's good intentions made it easier to avoid questions about effectiveness and decent management

Report by Business in the Community says Social Value Act has had some impact in improving lot of low-paid staff – but backs tougher approach with agencies

Public Accounts Committee says it is surprised DfE "did not take a stronger leadership role" in support for care leavers amid "disappointing service provision"

Equalities and Human Rights Commission warns that gaps in public data are leaving marginalised groups – including transgender people, gypsies and travellers, and bullied children – under the radar

Dods Research finds LSE best-perceived among officials, while some civil servants call for better access to academic studies

Chief inspector says some apprenticeships have been "devalued" by push to make them more widely available

Interim chief inspector of probation Paul Wilson tells CSW he is optimistic about the 'Transforming Rehabilitation' scheme – but warns over “more for less” culture

Lord Adonis to head up new body modelled on the independent Office for Budget Responsibility

Officials at the sharp end of cuts could be forgiven for feeling cynical about the future of Whitehall – but public service values will endure

DfE perm sec tells MPs on the Public Accounts committee that Care Leavers Strategy – sharply criticised by the spending watchdog – marks "very important step" in improving support for young people leaving care system

What’s life like at the sharp end of public services? A modern foreign languages teacher tells Sarah Aston about the pros and cons of changes to the schools system

Ofqual’s chief regulator announces plans to step down in February 2016

Justice department to run policy fellowships to expand “pool of people” delivering extensive reform programme

BIS and DfE urged to take "strategic" action over struggling colleges, while separate report confirms that the Skills Funding Agency's accounts have been qualified

National Audit Office report says Department for Education's Pupil Premium has used "clear formula to achieve a specific purpose", but says some schools being left with less money overall

Official in charge of Scotland’s fair work agenda admits set-up of Scottish civil service keeps out applicants with criminal convictions

Higher Education Policy Institute sounds alarm on un-recouped student loans