Almost a year ago, civil servants at the Department for Education (DfE) were thrust into the spotlight. Used to working behind the scenes, Jon Coles and three senior colleagues became the subject of media speculation, amid talk of an exodus from the department.
Some quarters of the press suggested that Coles, who was then director general of standards, and the others – including the former permanent secretary David Bell – were leaving because they were uncomfortable implementing policies under the leadership of Education Secretary Michael Gove.
Now group chief executive at the academy and independent school provider United Learning, Coles rejects the assertion that his departure from the DfE was connected to anything sinister.
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