Board meeting: 2 June 2025
Updated 14 August 2025
Applies to England
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Attendees and presenters
Member attendees
- Rt Hon Bridget Phillipson MP – Secretary of State for Education
- Rt Hon Baroness Smith – Minister for Skills and Minister for the Board
- Sir Kevan Collins – Lead Non-executive Board Member
- Susan Acland-Hood – Permanent Secretary
- Stuart McMinnies – Non-executive Board Member
- Margaret Casely-Hayford – Non-executive Board Member
- Steve Crocker – Non-executive Board Member
- Naomi Eisenstadt – Non-executive Board Member
- Rebecca George – Non-executive Board Member
- Jane Cunliffe – Chief Operating Officer
- Tony Foot – Director General, Strategy Group
Presenters
- Anne Spinali – Strategic Finance Director
- Charlie Lang – Programme Director, Schools Productivity
- Nabil Ali – Deputy Director, Teaching Workforce Strategy and Portfolio
- Sue Lovelock – Director, Teacher workforce – Candidates and Trainees – Strategy, Portfolio and Analysis
- Stephen Wan – Deputy Director, Skills Strategy and Delivery
- Alex Marsh – Director, School Analysis, System and Strategy
- Kate Cornish – Deputy Director, Attainment Delivery
- George Poulton – School Strategy Advisor
Other attendees
- Juliet Chua – Director General, Schools Group
- Julia Kinniburgh – Director General, Skills
- Justin Russell – Director General, Families Group
- Warwick Sharp – Director, Strategy and Delivery
- Helen Alderton – Private Secretary to Secretary of State
- Laura Hoskins – Board Secretary
- Tom McNeill – NED Support Lead
Apologies
None.
1. Introduction, minutes and action tracker
The Permanent Secretary took the Chair and welcomed members to the meeting. There were no apologies noted.
The minutes of the meeting held on 3 April 2025 were approved as a correct record.
The Board Secretary provided an update on the action tracker and Board members accepted the recommendations and updates from respective action owners.
The Secretary of State joined the meeting at this point and took the Chair.
2. Spending review
Board Members received an update on the Department’s spending review work, including funding bids, expected outcomes, and sector impacts.
The Permanent Secretary commended the Department’s cross-departmental work notably with the Ministry for Housing, Communities, and Local Government (MHCLG) and His Majesty’s Treasury (HMT).
3. Productivity and efficiencies in schools
Officials presented Board members with an overview of work to support the school system to become more productive and financially efficient.
Board members discussed value for money in schools and that more financially efficient, productive schools may contribute to improved attainment for children and learners.
4. Post-16 strategy
The Board was presented with an overview of the post-16 strategy scope, which would contribute to the Skills for Opportunity and Growth pillar of the Growth Mission.
Board members discussed the development of the skills white paper which would seek to address skills shortages and the vacancies created by these and people not in education, employment or training (NEET).
5. Attainment action plan
Board members discussed the Department’s attainment action plan and how Regional Improvements for Standards and Excellence (RISE) work would support the delivery of the plan in the sector.
6. Any other business
There was no other business.
The meeting concluded at 2:15pm.