Tim Coulson has been announced as the new director general of the Department for Education’s regions group.

He replaces John Edwards, who is leaving to become the chief executive of Rotherham Council.

Dr Coulson has been the chief executive of Unity Schools Partnership, which has 40 schools in the East of England, since 2017. Unity Schools Partnership announced today that Dr Coulson would be stepping down to take up his new role at the DfE.

Before joining Unity Schools Partnership, he was the government’s regional schools commissioner for the East of England and North East London. He was appointed a CBE for services to education in 2022.

Dr Coulson said: “I have enjoyed eight years at Unity, by far the longest time in any post in my career, and the opportunity has exceeded all the expectations I had when I was appointed.”

He added that visiting schools across the trust “has been one of the greatest joys ever in my work”.

Chris Quinn, chair of Unity Schools Partnership, said: “We would like to congratulate Tim on this appointment and are proud that the successes and strengths of the work of the trust have provided the credibility for this appointment.”

Dr Coulson will start his new role on 8 September, the DfE has confirmed. Sarah Garner, deputy chief executive at Unity Schools Partnership, will take over as interim chief executive, also from 8 September. The trust expects to advertise for the permanent CEO role soon.

What is the DfE regions group?

Mr Edwards became head of the regions group when it was created in 2022.

The regions group includes nine regional directors, covering each of the English regions, who make decisions about schools and trusts in their areas.

It replaced the DfE’s previous system of regional school commissioners, which had operated their own regions created by the department.

Previously, Mr Edwards was the interim chief executive and accounting officer of the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA), and had been regional schools commissioner for East Midlands and the Humber as part of a job share.

Meanwhile, Gila Sacks will take over as director general of the DfE’s families group from Justin Russell when he retires at the end of September.

Ms Sacks has held several roles across government, including most recently director of medicines at the Department for Health and Social Care. She has also been head of social mobility strategy and head of capital at the DfE.

DfE permanent secretary Susan Acland-Hood said: “I am delighted to welcome Gila and Tim to the leadership team of the Department for Education.

“Their extensive experience will be invaluable as we deliver on the Opportunity Mission to ensure that every child, no matter what their background, gets the best start in life and can achieve and thrive.”

The DfE’s new Regional Improvement for Standards and Excellence (RISE) teams, which were introduced this year, also work within and answer to the regions group.

RISE advisers are working with “stuck” schools, as well as providing universal support to all schools.

After ESFA closed earlier this year, its functions moved into the DfE; school financial support and oversight were brought together with the regions group from October 2024.

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