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Last updated: 23 November 2008
30 March 2006
CAB 016/06
The National School of Government is to have more autonomy to develop its role as a centre of excellence for learning and development across the public sector. Cabinet Office Minister Jim Murphy announced to Parliament today that it will become a non–ministerial department.
Jim Murphy said:
‘This is another big step towards improving public service delivery. As a separate department the National School will have an important role to play in ensuring that civil servants have the best knowledge and skills to continue the improvement in public service delivery.’
The National School will continue to lead on development across government, working closely with the Cabinet Office Strategic HR function for the Civil Service and Government Skills.
Cabinet Secretary Sir Gus O'Donnell said:
‘This is good news for the National School – it now has the autonomy to strengthen its strategic role across Government.
‘Its new status as a non–ministerial department will reflect wider ownership and accountability across the Civil Service and beyond – in effect it has the freedom to develop into a world–class resource for the public service.’
To mark its new status as a separate department, the National School is to organise its first major event in June 2006. An international conference to be held in London will focus on the model for public service reform being taken forward across a range of services in this and other countries, on how it is working in practice and what the future holds. The event will include addresses from high profile speakers and input from leading thinkers and practitioners in public service reform from across the world.
Brian Bender, Permanent Secretary at DTI, will chair the new National School of Government Board. Comprising leaders from across Whitehall, the wider public and not–for–profit sectors, the Board will set the agenda for the National School, to meet its broader aim of assisting departments meet their policy and organisational aims and to help embed corporate developments across the Civil Service.
Sir Brian Bender said:
‘We are all ambitious for the National School and what it can do for the public service. I look forward, with other members of the Board, to influencing the direction and impact of what is our key resource for development. It is in all our interests to ensure that we get the maximum return on our investment.’
Principal and Chief Executive of the National School of Government David Spencer said:
‘Real progress has been made over the past year and I feel that this change will provide additional momentum to take things forward. The new status and governance arrangements entirely underpin our strategy and provide a new dynamic that will allow the National School to become even more effective in meeting organisational and individual development needs’.
Examples of National School of Government work include:
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