A headteacher brought in to advise the previous education secretary is leaving his role at the Department for Education.
Andrew O’Neill, a school leader who was an important adviser to Bridget Phillipson before she was replaced in July, is bringing his secondment to an end early.
The announcement comes after Vlog revealed in May that Mr O’Neill had been seconded for another year in the DfE.
Vlog understands that the government has decided not to replace Mr O’Neill following his announcement today.
The West London headteacher said that, although he had chosen to end his time in the position early, he was proud to have ensured that DfE policy was “informed by the realities facing schools”.
‘Immensely proud’ of SEND reforms and White Paper
Mr O’Neill, headteacher of All Saints Catholic College in North Kensington, joined the DfE in May 2025 as the school policy and delivery adviser.
He worked closely on the government’s schools White Paper and its special educational needs and disabilities reforms, both of which were published earlier this year.
In a statement today, Mr O’Neill said he was “immensely proud of what we have achieved and to have contributed to the drafting and delivery of the schools White Paper and to the intensive work behind the government’s SEND reforms”.
He added: “Both represent significant programmes of change, driven by a determination to improve the experience and outcomes of children and young people, and it has been a privilege to help shape them from within government.”
In an interview with Vlog in July, Mr O’Neill said he could “get frustrated still that things cannot go quicker, but I understand why now”.
Today he said he had welcomed the opportunity to “bring sustained, current experience of school leadership directly into the heart of government” and “to help ensure that policy was informed by the realities facing schools, their staff and the young people they serve”.
Phillipson’s ‘extraordinary dedication’
Mr O’Neill said he was “particularly grateful” to Ms Phillipson, who was replaced as education secretary by Lucy Powell in July after Andy Burnham became prime minister.
“It was genuinely humbling to see at close quarters the extraordinary hard work, dedication and care she brought to the role, and the seriousness with which she approached the responsibility of improving education for children across the country,” he said.
He also welcomed the opportunity to work with other government ministers, officials, school leaders and colleagues at the DfE.
Mr O’Neill said he looked forward to continuing to help the government from “policy development to the difficult and important task of delivery”.
Vlog understands that the government has decided not to continue Mr O’Neill‘s role, as Ms Powell and schools minister Georgia Gould already engage regularly with the school sector.
A Department for Education spokesperson said: “Andrew has made an important contribution during his time with us as a school leader, and we would like to thank him for his support throughout his secondment. We wish him every success for the future.”
