Does Acland-Hood’s departure offer a sense that the government is indeed “changing the story” on education?

The Permanent Secretary’s parting statement struck this observer as extraordinarily revealing. Plus: celebrations for a school featured in these pages, but no context? And “Unauthorised Absence” film packs out West End cinema for its launch.

The statement may have seemed innocuous, wrapped up in what appeared a standard expression of goodwill as she prepared to leave a high-profile place of work. But Susan Acland-Hood’s thoughts, on the announcement of her departure as the Department for Education’s most senior civil servant, were as revealing as they were remarkable.

Ms Acland-Hood is to leave her post as the DfE’s Permanent Secretary after six years, it was announced this week.

In the statement put out by the DfE, Ms Acland-Hood said: “I am immensely proud of the work we have done together to take our system ever closer to being the best in the world, through evidence-based policy, disciplined, determined delivery and wide and deep partnership.”

Although this could be seen as the natural expression of someone voicing some pride in the recent work of herself and colleagues, it was that unqualified notion of England’s moving “ever closer to being the best in the world” that particularly piqued the interest of Education Uncovered.