The Department for Education’s Covid response has been widely criticised, with schools closing and reopening with little warning and many pupils adapting to remote learning. And now DfE faces a fresh set of challenges – from ‘levelling up’ educational opportunities to ensuring everyone has a better start in life by improving early education and childcare.

But does DfE have the capacity to meet education’s challenges in the post-pandemic world? How has academisation changed the role of the department? Does it have the capacity to improve the system? And does the department devote enough time to long-term challenges?

On our panel to discuss these questions:

• Justine Greening, former Secretary of State for Education
• Anne Longfield, former Children’s Commissioner for England
• Jonathan Slater, former Permanent Secretary for the Department for Education
• Rachel Sylvester, Political columnist at The Times

The event is chaired by Sam Freedman, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government.

#IfGeducation

We would like to thank edpol.net and the Foundation for Education Development (FED) for supporting this event.

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