About us

The Department for Education is responsible for children’s services and education, including early years, schools, higher and further education policy, apprenticeships and wider skills in England.

We work to provide children’s services, education and skills training that ensures opportunity is equal for all, no matter background, family circumstances, or need.

We are the department for opportunity. We work to deliver better life chances for all – breaking the link between background and success. We do this by protecting children and ensuring the delivery of higher standards of education, training and care. We create opportunities for children and learners to achieve and thrive today, so they have the freedom to succeed and flourish tomorrow, strengthening our society, powering our economy, and enabling equality.

Responsibilities

We are responsible for:

  • teaching and learning for children in the early years and in primary schools
  • teaching and learning for young people in secondary schools
  • teaching, learning and training for young people and adults in apprenticeships, traineeships and further education
  • teaching and learning for young people and adults in higher education
  • supporting professionals who work with children, young people and adult learners
  • helping disadvantaged children and young people to achieve more
  • making sure that local services protect and support children

Our priorities

Drive economic growth through improving the skills pipeline, levelling up productivity and supporting people to work (cross-cutting outcome). The supporting departments are Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), Department for Digital Culture Media and Sport (DCMS), Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).

Level up education standards so that children and young people in every part of the country are prepared with the knowledge, skills, and qualifications they need.

Support the most disadvantaged and vulnerable children and young people through high-quality local services so that no one is left behind (cross-cutting outcome). The supporting departments are DCMS, Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), DWP, Home Office (HO), MHCLG and Ministry of Justice (MoJ).

Provide the best start in life through high-quality early education and childcare to raise standards and help parents to work (cross-cutting outcome). The supporting departments are DWP and His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

Who we are

We are a ministerial department supported by 18 agencies and public bodies and non-ministerial departments.

Our staff are based at our ministerial offices in London and in a number of other locations around England.

We work closely with:

  • national and local agencies who look after children
  • local authorities
  • professionals who work in schools and further and higher education institutions, children’s services and health services

Corporate information

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