Journalists with incoming enquiries and bids should call our central newsdesk on 020 7925 6789. This is staffed from 8:00am until 7:00pm Monday to Friday and out of hours the number will divert to the duty press officer. Other calls should be directed as below.
Head of News
Lee Bailey
020 7925 6789
Deputy Head of News
Gemmaine Walsh
020 7925 6789
Head of Children and Families Desk
Priya Brahmbhatt
020 7227 5195
Head of Schools Desk
Dunstan Hadley
020 7227 5176
Head of News Desk and New Media
Matt Hopkinson
020 7925 6789
Regional Team
West Midlands, South East and South West:
Charlotte Redman
01993 832305
Yorkshire and the Humber, North East and East Midlands:
Ruth Thornber
0114 2742096
North West, London and East of England:
Colin McGuffie
01928 794252
For urgent out of hours calls please ring the same number or our pager service on 07659 105993. If your call is not urgent please wait until the office is open again.
Members of the public please call 0870 000 2288.
If you have a specific enquiry about a policy that is handled by a non-departmental public body it may be best to contact their press office directly:
Audit Commission
The Audit Commission is an independent watchdog, driving economy, efficiency and effectiveness in local public services to deliver better outcomes for everyone.
Web: www.audit-commission.gov.uk
Tel: 0844 798 2134
Becta
Becta is the government agency leading the national drive to ensure the effective and innovative use of technology throughout learning.
Web: www.becta.org.uk
Tel: 02476 797146 or the out of hours, duty press officer on 07786 177425
Cafcass
Cafcass looks after the interests of children involved in family proceedings. The organisation works with children and their families and then advises the courts on the best interests of individual children.
Web: www.cafcass.gov.uk
Tel: 0844 353 3350
Care Quality Commission
The Care Quality Commission is the independent regulator of health and social care in England.
Web: www.cqc.org.uk
Tel: 0207 448 9401
Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP)
The Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) is tasked to work both nationally and internationally to bring online child sex offenders, including those involved in the production, distribution and viewing of child pornography, to the UK courts.
Web: www.ceop.gov.uk
Tel: 0870 000 3434
Children's Workforce Development Council (CWDC)
CWDC works across Early Years, young people and social work workforces to improve training and development of professionals.
Web: www.cwdcouncil.org.uk
Tel: 0113 3907658
Criminal Records Bureau
The CRB is an Executive Agency of the Home Office set up to help organisations make safer recruitment decisions. The links below will provide you with an overview of the CRB and its services.
Web: www.crb.homeoffice.gov.uk
Tel: Home Office Press Office 020 7035 3535
General Social Care Council
Sets standards of conduct and practice for social care workers and their employers in England and is responsible for the codes of practice, the Social Care Register and social work education and training.
Web: www.gscc.org.uk
Tel: 020 7397 5832 / 5863
Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA)
The Independent Safeguarding Authority’s (ISA) role is to help prevent unsuitable people from working with children and vulnerable adults.
Web: www.isa-gov.org.uk
Tel: 01325 953731
National College for Leadership of Schools and Children’s Services
The National College works to develop and support great leaders of schools, Early Years settings and children’s services.
Web: www.nationalcollege.org.uk
Tel: 020 7023 4870
National Council for Voluntary Youth Services
NCVYS is an independent body that represents voluntary and community youth organisations in England.
Web: www.ncvys.org.uk
Tel: 020 72781041
National Youth Agency
NYA works in partnership with public, private and voluntary sector organisations to support and improve services for young people.
Web: www.nya.org.uk
Tel: 0116 242 7480
Office of the Children’s Commissioner (11 million)
The role of the Commissioner is to promote the views of children and young people from birth to 18 (up to 21 for young people in care or with learning difficulties). The current Children’s Commissioner is Maggie Atkinson.
Web: www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk
Tel: 05511 437863 / 0551 143 7858
Office of the Qualifications and Examinations Regulator (Ofqual)
Ofqual regulates qualifications, exams and tests in England. As an independent regulator it reports directly to Parliament.
Web: www.ofqual.gov.uk
Tel: 0300 3033342
Office of Standards in Education (Ofsted)
Ofsted inspects and regulates to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages.
Web: www.ofsted.gov.uk
Tel: 020 7421 6622
Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency (QCDA)
QCDA is responsible for developing and reviewing the national curriculum, improving and delivering assessments, and reviewing and reforming qualifications. The QCA transformed into the QCDA in July 2009.
Web: www.qcda.org.uk
Tel: 0300 303 3012
School Food Trust
The School Food Trust was established by the Department in September 2005. Its remit is to transform school food and food skills, promote the education and health of children and young people and improve the quality of food in schools.
Web: www.schoolfoodtrust.org.uk
Tel: 020 7273 5205
Training and Development Agency for schools (TDA)
TDA is the national agency and recognised sector body responsible for the training and development of the school workforce.
Web: www.tda.gov.uk
Tel: 0300 065 6763
UK Council on Child Internet Safety (UKCCIS)
The UK Council for Child Internet Safety (UKCCIS) brings together organisations from industry, charities and the public sector to work with the Government to improve child internet safety.
DfE Press Office handles media on behalf of UKCCIS.
Tel: 0207 925 6789
Young People's Learning Agency (YPLA)
YPLA was established by the Department in April 2010 and is responsible for championing education and training for young people in England. It supports local authorities to commission suitable education and training opportunities for all 16- to 19-year-olds in England, funds and manages the performance of open academies and provides direct support for learners.
Web: www.ypla.gov.uk
Tel: 020 7904 0945