Department for Education

Department for Education
	; 20 Great Smith Street, Westminster
Department overview
Formed	2010
Preceding agencies	Department for Children, Schools and Families; Higher education, apprenticeships and skills responsibilities of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (from 2016);
Jurisdiction	Government of the United Kingdom
Headquarters	Sanctuary Buildings, Great Smith Street, London, England, United Kingdom
Employees	3,885 (2012)
Annual budget	£58.2 billion (2015–16)
Secretary of state responsible	Bridget Phillipson, Secretary of State for Education;
Department executive	Susan Acland-Hood, Permanent Secretary ;
Child agencies	Education and Skills Funding Agency; Standards and Testing Agency; Government Equalities Office;
Website	www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-education

The Department for Education (DfE) is a ministerial department of the Government of the United Kingdom. It is responsible for child protection, child services, education (compulsory, further, and higher education), apprenticeships, and wider skills in England.^[5]

A Department for Education previously existed between 1992, when the Department of Education and Science was renamed, and 1995, when it was merged with the Department for Employment to become the Department for Education and Employment.

The current holder of Secretary of State for Education is the Rt. Hon. Bridget Phillipson MP and Susan Acland-Hood is the permanent secretary.

The expenditure, administration, and policy of the Department of Education are scrutinised by the Education Select Committee.

History

The DfE was formed on 12 May 2010 by the incoming Coalition Government, taking on the responsibilities and resources of the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF).

In June 2012 the Department for Education committed a breach of the UK's Data Protection Act due to a security flaw on its website which made email addresses, passwords and comments of people responding to consultation documents available for download.^[6]

In July 2016, the department took over responsibilities for higher and further education and for apprenticeship from the dissolved Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.^[7]

Predecessor bodies

Committee of the Privy Council on Education, 1839–1899
Education Department, 1856–1899
Board of Education, 1899–1944
Ministry of Education, 1944–1964
Department of Education and Science, 1964–1992
Department for Education, 1992–1995
Department for Education and Employment (DfEE), 1995–2001
Department for Education and Skills (DfES), 2001–2007
Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF), 2007–2010

Responsibilities

The department is led by the secretary of state for education. The permanent secretary from December 2020 is Susan Acland-Hood.^[4] DfE is responsible for education, children's services, higher and further education policy, apprenticeships, and wider skills in England, and equalities. The predecessor department employed the equivalent of 2,695 staff as of April 2008 and as at June 2016, DfE had reduced its workforce to the equivalent of 2,301 staff.^[8] In 2015–16, the DfE has a budget of £58.2bn, which includes £53.6bn resource spending and £4.6bn of capital investments.

Ministers

The Department for Education's ministers are as follows, with cabinet members in bold:^[9]

Board

The management board is made up of:

Permanent secretary – Susan Acland-Hood
Director-General, Families – Justin Russell
Director-General, Regions – John Edwards
Director-General, Skills – Julia Kinniburgh
Director-General, Schools – Juliet Chua
Director-General, Strategy – Tony Foot
Chief operating officer – Jane Cunliffe
Chief executive, Education & Skills Funding Agency – David Withey

Non-executive board members:^[5]

Marion Plant; CEO of the Midland Academies Trust and principal
Ruby McGregor-Smith, Baroness McGregor-Smith; former chief executive of Mitie Group
Ian Ferguson; businessman

Locations

As at 2 August 2016, the DfE has five main sites:^[10]

The entrance to the Great Smith Street site
Sanctuary Buildings, Great Smith Street, London
Piccadilly Gate, Manchester
2 St Paul's Place, Sheffield
Bishopsgate House, Darlington
Cheylesmore House, Coventry

Agencies and public bodies

Agencies

Education and Skills Funding Agency

The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA)^[11] was formed on 1 April 2017 following the merger of the Education Funding Agency and the Skills Funding Agency. Previously the Education Funding Agency (EFA) was responsible for distributing funding for state education in England for 3- to 19-year-olds, as well as managing the estates of schools, and colleges and the Skills Funding Agency was responsible for funding skills training for further education in England and running the National Apprenticeship Service and the National Careers Service. The EFA was formed on 1 April 2012 by bringing together the functions of two non-departmental public bodies, the Young People's Learning Agency and Partnerships for Schools.^[12] The SFA was formed on 1 April 2010, following the closure of the Learning and Skills Council.^[13] David Withey is the agency's chief executive.^[14]

Teaching Regulation Agency

The Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) is responsible for regulation of the teaching profession, including misconduct hearings.^[15] Its predecessors include the National College for Teaching and Leadership (to 2018), the Teaching Agency (to 2013) and the Training and Development Agency for Schools (from 1994).

Standards and Testing Agency

The Standards and Testing Agency (STA) is responsible for developing and delivering all statutory assessments for school pupils in England.^[16] It was formed on 1 October 2011 and took over the functions of the Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency. The STA is regulated by the examinations regulator, Ofqual.^[17]

Public bodies

The DfE is also supported by 10 public bodies:

Devolution

Education, youth and children's policy is devolved elsewhere in the United Kingdom. The department's main devolved counterparts are as follows:

Scottish Government – Learning and Justice Directorates
Department of Education (Northern Ireland)
Executive Office (Northern Ireland) (children and young people)^[18]
Welsh Government – Department for Education and Skills^[19]

National Curriculum 2014

The Department for Education released a new National Curriculum for schools in England for September 2014, which included 'Computing'.^[20] Following Michael Gove's speech in 2012,^[21] the subject of Information Communication Technology (ICT) has been disapplied and replaced by Computing. With the new curriculum, materials have been written by commercial companies, to support non-specialist teachers, for example, '100 Computing Lessons' by Scholastic. The Computing at Schools organisation^[22] has created a 'Network of Teaching Excellence'to support schools with the new curriculum.^[23]

Post-16 area reviews

In 2015, the department announced a major restructuring of the further education sector, through 37 area reviews of post-16 provision.^[24] The proposals were criticised by NUS Vice President for Further Education Shakira Martin for not sufficiently taking into account the impact on learners;^[25]^[26] the Sixth Form Colleges' Association similarly criticised the reviews for not directly including providers of post-16 education other than colleges, such as school and academy sixth forms and independent training providers.^[27]

Funding and grants

In 2018, The Department for Education confirmed their commitment to forming positive relationships with the voluntary and community sector.^[28]

In 2020 the department began funding the National Tutoring Programme which employed private companies to deliver the tuition including at least one which uses children as tutors, paying them £1.57 per hour.^[29] Tutors received up to £25 of the between £72 and £84 per hour the government paid the companies.^[30]

References

^ Department for Education staff numbers
^ "DfE Estimates Memoranda" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 February 2019. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
^ "Susan Acland-Hood". GOV.UK. Archived from the original on 22 February 2016. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
^ a b "Top DfE job goes to acting boss Susan Acland-Hood". Archived from the original on 12 December 2020. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
^ a b "Department for Education". GOV.UK. Archived from the original on 9 May 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
^ Fiveash, Kelly (19 October 2012), ICO: Education ministry BROKE the Data Protection Act, The Register, archived from the original on 10 August 2019, retrieved 7 December 2012
^ Matt Foster, New Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy swallows up DECC and BIS – full details and reaction Archived 15 July 2016 at the Wayback Machine, Civil Service World (14 July 2016).
^ "DfE monthly workforce management information: 2016 to 2017". GOV.UK. Archived from the original on 11 January 2020. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
^ This article incorporates text published under the British Open Government Licence: "Our ministers". GOV.UK. Department for Education. Archived from the original on 9 May 2021. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
^ "Occupation (Excel Download) - data.gov.uk". www.data.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 7 March 2023. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
^ "Education and Skills Funding Agency". GOV.UK. Archived from the original on 10 August 2020. Retrieved 15 April 2017.
^ "The creation of the Education Funding Agency". Department for Education. Archived from the original on 3 March 2014. Retrieved 29 March 2013.
^ Skills Funding Agency, Annual Report and Accounts 2010–11 Archived 22 January 2017 at the Wayback Machine, accessed 15 April 2017
^ Education and Skills Funding Agency Archived 10 August 2020 at the Wayback Machine, accessed 4 January 2018
^ "Teaching Regulation Agency". GOV.UK. Archived from the original on 5 February 2021. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
^ "Standards and Testing Agency". Department for Education. Archived from the original on 15 March 2014. Retrieved 29 March 2013.
^ "STA Feedback and complaints". Department for Education. Archived from the original on 3 March 2014. Retrieved 29 March 2013.
^ "Home". The Executive Office. Archived from the original on 1 January 2019. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
^ Welsh Government | Education and skills Archived 6 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine. Wales.gov.uk. Retrieved on 13 August 2013.
^ "National curriculum in England: computing programmes of study". GOV.UK. Archived from the original on 4 August 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
^ "Michael Gove speech at the BETT Show 2012". GOV.UK. Archived from the original on 14 April 2014. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
^ "Computing at School". www.computingatschool.org.uk. Archived from the original on 11 February 2019. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
^ "Computing at School :: Network of Teaching Excellence in Computer Science". Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
^ [1] Archived 13 August 2017 at the Wayback Machine Department for Education. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
^ Robertson, Alix (20 April 2016). "Shakira Martin re-elected as NUS vice president for FE". FE Week. Archived from the original on 24 February 2017. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
^ Offord, Paul (2 November 2016). "Student focus for Sir Vince Cable's FE comeback". FE Week. Archived from the original on 8 June 2017. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
^ Burke, Jude (8 July 2016). "MPs launch inquiry into post-16 area reviews". FE Week. Archived from the original on 15 June 2017. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
^ "Grants and contracts from the Department for Education". Children England. Archived from the original on 25 January 2019. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
^ "UK tutoring scheme uses under-18s in Sri Lanka paid as little as £1.57 an hour". The Guardian. 19 March 2021. Archived from the original on 19 March 2021. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
^ "England's 'catch-up' tutors are being short-changed by private employers". The Guardian. 28 February 2021. Archived from the original on 19 March 2021. Retrieved 19 March 2021.

External links

Official website
Official department YouTube channel

[1] Department for Education staff numbers

[2] "DfE Estimates Memoranda" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 February 2019. Retrieved 26 February 2018.

[3] "Susan Acland-Hood". GOV.UK. Archived from the original on 22 February 2016. Retrieved 8 September 2020.

[tes.com-4] "Top DfE job goes to acting boss Susan Acland-Hood". Archived from the original on 12 December 2020. Retrieved 10 December 2020.

[:0-5] "Department for Education". GOV.UK. Archived from the original on 9 May 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2015.

[6] Fiveash, Kelly (19 October 2012), ICO: Education ministry BROKE the Data Protection Act, The Register, archived from the original on 10 August 2019, retrieved 7 December 2012

[CSW-7] Matt Foster, New Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy swallows up DECC and BIS – full details and reaction Archived 15 July 2016 at the Wayback Machine, Civil Service World (14 July 2016).

[8] "DfE monthly workforce management information: 2016 to 2017". GOV.UK. Archived from the original on 11 January 2020. Retrieved 2 August 2016.

[9] This article incorporates text published under the British Open Government Licence: "Our ministers". GOV.UK. Department for Education. Archived from the original on 9 May 2021. Retrieved 27 September 2022.

[10] "Occupation (Excel Download) - data.gov.uk". www.data.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 7 March 2023. Retrieved 7 March 2023.

[11] "Education and Skills Funding Agency". GOV.UK. Archived from the original on 10 August 2020. Retrieved 15 April 2017.

[12] "The creation of the Education Funding Agency". Department for Education. Archived from the original on 3 March 2014. Retrieved 29 March 2013.

[13] Skills Funding Agency, Annual Report and Accounts 2010–11 Archived 22 January 2017 at the Wayback Machine, accessed 15 April 2017

[14] Education and Skills Funding Agency Archived 10 August 2020 at the Wayback Machine, accessed 4 January 2018

[15] "Teaching Regulation Agency". GOV.UK. Archived from the original on 5 February 2021. Retrieved 7 February 2021.

[16] "Standards and Testing Agency". Department for Education. Archived from the original on 15 March 2014. Retrieved 29 March 2013.

[17] "STA Feedback and complaints". Department for Education. Archived from the original on 3 March 2014. Retrieved 29 March 2013.

[18] "Home". The Executive Office. Archived from the original on 1 January 2019. Retrieved 10 February 2019.

[19] Welsh Government | Education and skills Archived 6 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine. Wales.gov.uk. Retrieved on 13 August 2013.

[20] "National curriculum in England: computing programmes of study". GOV.UK. Archived from the original on 4 August 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2014.

[21] "Michael Gove speech at the BETT Show 2012". GOV.UK. Archived from the original on 14 April 2014. Retrieved 15 April 2014.

[22] "Computing at School". www.computingatschool.org.uk. Archived from the original on 11 February 2019. Retrieved 10 February 2019.

[23] "Computing at School :: Network of Teaching Excellence in Computer Science". Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 18 April 2014.

[24] [1] Archived 13 August 2017 at the Wayback Machine Department for Education. Retrieved 1 May 2017.

[Robertson-25] Robertson, Alix (20 April 2016). "Shakira Martin re-elected as NUS vice president for FE". FE Week. Archived from the original on 24 February 2017. Retrieved 26 April 2017.

[FE_Week-26] Offord, Paul (2 November 2016). "Student focus for Sir Vince Cable's FE comeback". FE Week. Archived from the original on 8 June 2017. Retrieved 26 April 2017.

[Burke-27] Burke, Jude (8 July 2016). "MPs launch inquiry into post-16 area reviews". FE Week. Archived from the original on 15 June 2017. Retrieved 26 April 2017.

[28] "Grants and contracts from the Department for Education". Children England. Archived from the original on 25 January 2019. Retrieved 24 January 2019.

[29] "UK tutoring scheme uses under-18s in Sri Lanka paid as little as £1.57 an hour". The Guardian. 19 March 2021. Archived from the original on 19 March 2021. Retrieved 19 March 2021.

[30] "England's 'catch-up' tutors are being short-changed by private employers". The Guardian. 28 February 2021. Archived from the original on 19 March 2021. Retrieved 19 March 2021.