Sir Kevan Collins promoted to leading DfE role
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Sir Kevan Collins promoted to leading DfE role
Department for Education adviser Sir Kevan Collins has been appointed as the DfE’s lead non-executive director.
Sir Kevan was selected through an open recruitment process - ultimately decided by education secretary Bridget Phillipson - to serve in the role for three years from 11 February.
Tes understands that the tenure of the outgoing lead non-executive director was at an end.
Ms Phillipson said Sir Kevan has been a “key driver” of the government’s work to drive high and rising standards for every child.
“His experience from classroom to boardroom and across every aspect of education standards makes him the ideal person for this crucial role, advising the department as lead non-executive director,” she added.
Sir Kevan, a former teacher, set up the Education Endowment Foundation as its CEO in 2011. He was appointed as education recovery commissioner by the previous government in the wake of the Covid pandemic, but he resigned when it became clear that the Conservatives would not fund his education catch-up plan.
New DfE role for Sir Kevan Collins
Remuneration for the role is £20,000 a year for an an estimate of at least 24 days a year.
The advertisement for the role said the lead non-executive director will lead the team of non-executive directors who challenge and scrutinise ministers.
The role will also support the secretary of state as chair of the board, work with other government departments and help shape DfE strategy.
The lead non-executive director will meet regularly with the secretary of state and the DfE permanent secretary, and hold the department to account on strategy, performance and spending.
- Background: DfE hires Sir Kevan Collins as schools standards adviser
- Sir Kevan Collins on Covid catch-up: ‘We did nothing. We gave up. It was pathetic’
- Read more: Meet Sir Kevan Collins - champion of education research
Sir Kevan had previously been hired by the DfE as an adviser on school standards.
Back in July the DfE said Sir Kevan had been appointed as a new non-executive board member to “provide scrutiny and advice on government’s delivery of high and rising standards in schools”.
There are currently 11 competitions ongoing to fill 22 vacancies at the DfE and on its arm’s-length bodies. The DfE will make announcements on these shortly.
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