Susan Acland-Hood is set to leave her role as permanent secretary at the Department for Education at the end of the month, Vlog can reveal.
Ms Acland-Hood has held the position since September 2020, and was responsible for the day-to-day running of the DfE, overseeing its budget and acting as chief policy adviser to the education secretary.
Before joining the DfE, she was chief executive at HM Courts and Tribunals Service and director of enterprise and growth at HM Treasury.
She will be replaced by Simon Ridley, who is currently second permanent secretary at the Home Office.
DfE permanent secretary departs
Education secretary Lucy Powell today thanked Ms Acland-Hood for her leadership of the DfE.
“Susan has been an exceptional permanent secretary and public servant - helping children and families recover from the pandemic, expanding childcare provision, strengthening the skills system and so much more,” Ms Powell said.
She added that she looks forward to working with Mr Ridley, who brings a “breadth of experience and a track record of delivery”.
Ms Acland-Hood previously warned, after the Covid pandemic, that the DfE could have “done better” with its education catch-up plan.
While the departing permanent secretary has said she is leaving for a new role, she has not disclosed where.
Ms Acland-Hood said today: “I am immensely proud of the work we have done together to take our system ever closer to being the best in the world, through evidence-based policy, disciplined, determined delivery and wide and deep partnership.”
The government said the appointment of Mr Ridley follows a managed move process approved by the prime minister and Ms Powell, in consultation with the first civil service commissioner.
Mr Ridley will start in November.
He said: “I am looking forward to working with all the brilliant people in the department, and leaders and practitioners throughout the country, to deliver the secretary of state’s ambitious agenda.”
