This report examines the effectiveness of strategic leadership within England's learning and skills sector. The National Audit Office investigates how the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) and its partners are developing and implementing strategies to ensure a sufficient supply of effective leaders. It assesses the challenges faced in attracting, developing, and retaining leaders, and the impact of these challenges on the sector's ability to meet its objectives.

This report from the National Audit Office provides a critical examination of leadership within England's learning and skills sector. The analysis focuses on the strategies employed by the Department for Education and Skills and its collaborators to ensure a robust pipeline of effective leaders. It highlights the obstacles encountered in leadership recruitment and retention, and their consequences for sector performance. The document concludes with actionable recommendations aimed at enhancing leadership capacity and strategic coherence.