Department for Education

The Department for Education is responsible for education and children’s services in England. We work to achieve a highly educated society in which opportunity is equal for children and young people, no matter what their background or family circumstances.

Responsibilities

We are responsible for:

• teaching and learning for children in the early years and in primary schools
• teaching and learning for young people under the age of 19 years in secondary schools and in further education
• supporting professionals who work with children and young people
• helping disadvantaged children and young people to achieve more
• making sure that local services protect and support children.

Our priorities

In 2014 to 2015, our priorities are to:

• create a self-improving school-led system
• develop a great workforce - with strong leadership
• increase rigour and expectations of curriculums, assessment and behaviour
• protect and increase opportunity for vulnerable children
• support schools to prepare well-rounded young people for success in adult life
• remove unnecessary regulation and bureaucracy
• improve accountability
• allocate funding more fairly and effectively.