Our governance

Decision-making, executive and managerial bodies in the Department for Education (DfE).

Explains the roles and structure of our boards and committees.

Departmental Board

皇冠体育app Departmental Board advises on strategy, operations and the deliverability of policy. It is also supervisory:

  • scrutinising delivery and performance, including how the Department for Education (DfE) reports on these across all of our business
  • challenging the department on how well it is achieving its objectives

皇冠体育app board oversees the Audit and Risk Committee and the Nominations Committee. It receives regular updates from the Leadership Team on the executive management of the department. 皇冠体育app board advises on any issues that are escalated by committees and may also ask any committee to look at a specific issue in more detail.

Membership

Chair

Other members

Standing invitations

Audit and Risk Committee

皇冠体育app Audit and Risk Committee (ARC) advises the board and Principal Accounting Officer on the strategic processes for risk, control, and governance and the governance statement.

皇冠体育app ARC can refer specific issues to the Implementation Committee for in-depth discussion, independent challenge and collective problem-solving.

It can also refer specific risks to the Performance and Risk Committee for further investigation. 皇冠体育app ARC terms of reference are available.

Membership

Chair

Independent members

Additional attendees

  • Susan Acland-Hood, Permanent Secretary
  • Jane Cunliffe, Chief Operating Officer and Director General, Operations and Infrastructure Group
  • Head of Internal Audit
  • National Audit Office representative
  • senior representatives of the executive agencies (as required)

Nominations Committee

皇冠体育app Nominations Committee supports and challenges DfE arrangements for senior appointments, talent and pay. It advises the Permanent Secretary on senior talent and succession planning, and remuneration.

It also supports ministers by scrutinising the processes the department has in place for public appointments. 皇冠体育app committee reports to the Departmental Board and can recommend actions for the Leadership Team.

Membership

Chair

Non-executive board members

Role-specific attendees

  • Susan Acland-Hood, Permanent Secretary
  • Naomi Schweitzer, Director, Human Resources and Transformation

Leadership Team

皇冠体育app Leadership Team supports the Permanent Secretary in running the department. It makes sure DfE is as effective as possible in delivering its business and government policy. It sets the direction for the department鈥檚 organisational strategy and business plans and provides day-to-day executive leadership and management.

皇冠体育app Leadership Team reports to the Departmental Board and is supported by sub-committees covering:

  • people matters
  • data, digital and technology
  • performance and risk
  • investment decisions and monitoring

It can refer specific risks and issues to the Implementation Committee for in-depth discussion, independent challenge and collective problem-solving.

Membership

Chair

Role-specific members

Annual report and accounts

Department for Education annual report and accounts, 2023 to 2024

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