Transparency data

Board meeting: 27 March 2024

Updated 17 March 2025

Applies to England

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Summary of the Department for Education’s (DfE) board meeting held on 27 March 2024, from 9:30am to 11:25am.

Attendees, presenters and apologies

Member Attendees

  • Rt Hon Gillian Keegan – Secretary of State for Education (Chair until 10:30am)
  • Richard Pennycook – Lead Non-executive Board Member (Chair from 10:30am)
  • Susan Acland-Hood – Permanent Secretary
  • Toby Peyton-Jones – Non-executive Board Member
  • Jane Cunliffe – Chief Operating Officer
  • Tony Foot – Director General, Strategy Group

Presenters

  • Joe Billington – Deputy Director, Sustainability and Strategic Projects
  • Clare Ibbeson – Sustainability and Strategic Projects
  • Sarah Lyth – Sustainability and Climate Change Portfolio Director
  • Kath Moulds – Deputy Director, Digital Strategy for Education
  • Anne Spinali – Director, Strategic Finance
  • Tom Stephens – Deputy Director, Delivery Unit
  • James Green – Deputy Director, Major Projects and Risk
  • Lucy Darling – Head of Delivery, Delivery Unit
  • Matthew Edwards – Deputy Director, Yorkshire and the Humber Region
  • Laura Thompson – Delivery Team Leader, West Yorkshire, Yorkshire and the Humber Region
  • Beverley Wilson – Local Authority Interventions, Case Lead

Other Attendees

  • Julia Kinniburgh – Director General, Skills Group (until 10:30am)
  • Juliet Chua – Director General, Schools Group
  • John Edwards – Director General, Regions Group
  • Helen Alderton – Principal Private Secretary to the Secretary of State
  • Anna Haynes – Board Secretariat Officer
  • Lynne Brumpton – Interim Board Secretariat Lead

Apologies

  • Baroness Barran – Minister for the Board and Minister for the School System and Finance
  • Sir Peter Bazalgette – Non-executive Board Member
  • Jack Boyer – Non-executive Board Member
  • Stuart McMinnies – Non-executive Board Member
  • Justin Russell – Director General, Families

1. Introduction, minutes and action tracker

The Chair welcomed members and attendees to the meeting, noting apologies from Baroness Barran, Jack Boyer, Sir Peter Bazalgette, Stuart McMinnies, and Justin Russell.

There were no new or changed conflicts of interest, and the minutes and action tracker of the previous meeting were approved.

The board received an update on the department’s sustainability and climate change strategy and the climate-related financial reporting risk approach.

Board members discussed the impact of the new climate-related financial disclosures on the education estate.

Board members also noted the importance of green skills for the future.

3. Generative artificial intelligence in education

The board received an update on DfE’s work to capitalise on the opportunities that generative artificial intelligence (AI) presented for education.

Board members discussed the digital knowledge, capacity, and capability of the school estate.

Board members emphasised the importance of digital literacy in the education sector and discussed the importance of ensuring that all schools had the ability to access basic technology.

4. Departmental finance update

The board received an update of the current departmental financial position at P11.

Board members discussed the pressures to the departmental budget and headcount efficiency scenario planning.

5. Departmental performance update

The board received an overview of delivery across the Secretary of State’s priorities and major projects.

Board members discussed the impact of business planning on project delivery and the roles of the Performance and Risk Committee and Investment Committee in tracking departmental benefits.

6. Regions Group spotlight

The board received an overview of the Yorkshire and Humber region. This is a regular, rolling update item, with each region coming to the board in turn.

Board members discussed the region’s children’s social care system, school standards, and school attendance.

Board members also advocated for sharing the lessons learnt from the Yorkshire and Humber region with other regions in England.

7. AOB

No further items were raised as part of any other business.

The meeting closed at 11:25am.

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