Department for Education chief forced out after exams fiasco

Boris Johnson wants ‘fresh leadership’ at under-pressure department

The top civil servant at the Department for Education has been forced out by prime minister Boris Johnson.

Jonathan Slater, the DfE’s permanent secretary, “agreed that he will stand down” on 1 September after four years in post, the department said. In a 26 August announcement the DfE said: “The prime minister has concluded that there is a need for fresh official leadership at the Department for Education.”