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Jonathan Slater moves from DG role in UK Cabinet Office to lead education department

By on 21/04/2016 | Updated on 25/09/2020
Jonathan Slater will take up the post of permanent secretary for the Department of Education on 3 May

Jonathan Slater, a director-general within Britain’s Cabinet Office, will take charge of the education department next month, less than six months after being appointed to his current job.

Slater was appointed director-general and head of the Economic and Domestic Affairs Secretariat last October, where his role involves co-ordinating policy advice to the prime minister and the cabinet, as well as leading the Implementation Unit and the Implementation Task Forces, which oversee the delivery of government priorities.

From July 2011, Slater was DG of Head Office and Commissioning Services at the Ministry of Defence where he first led the defence reform programme and then oversaw the Head Office, Corporate Services, and the Defence Infrastructure Organisation.

He also spent three years as deputy chief executive and director of education for Islington council – a local authority in Greater London.

Slater will take up the post of permanent secretary for the Department of Education on 3 May, when the current permanent secretary, Chris Wormald, will take over at the Department of Health.

He said: “It’s a tremendous honour to have been given the opportunity to lead this wonderful department, supporting Nicky Morgan and her ministerial teams in their efforts to give all of our children the very best education, protection and opportunity possible – and to drive a really ambitious equalities agenda right across government.

“I’ve had a great time in the Cabinet Office, working with many brilliant people doing important work. But I can’t wait to get stuck in to my new role, and to start meeting my new talented and committed DfE colleagues and our many partners across the country.”

His appointment has been made by prime minister David Cameron in agreement with the cabinet secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood and education secretary Nicky Morgan.

Heywood, said: “I will be sorry to see Jonathan leaving the Cabinet Office so soon. But he has a real passion for education and helping all children to fulfil their potential. I know he will do a great job at the Department for Education helping to support and deliver the government’s reform agenda. I wish him every success in building on the great work of Chris Wormald.”

Morgan said: “I’m delighted that Jonathan will be the new permanent secretary at the Department for Education.

“As well as his experience at the Cabinet Office, Jonathan will bring invaluable expertise in leading major delivery programmes at both the Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Defence, as well as his background in local government.

“He is particularly well-placed to lead the department to deliver the next phase of our reforms to education and children’s social care, and I look forward to working closely with him.

“It has been a pleasure to work with Chris Wormald during his tenure as permanent secretary here.

“I wish him all the best as he moves to the Department of Health.‎”

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About Winnie Agbonlahor

Winnie is news editor of Global Government Forum. She previously reported for Civil Service World - the trade magazine for senior UK government officials. Originally from Germany, Winnie first came to the UK in 2006 to study a BA in Journalism & Russian at the University of Sheffield. She is bilingual in English and German, and, after spending an academic year abroad in Russia and reporting for the Moscow Times, Winnie also speaks Russian fluently.

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