The Department for Education can it respond to post-pandemic challenges
b'The Department for Education\\u2019s Covid response has been widely criticised, with schools closing and reopening with little warning and many pupils adapting to remote learning. And now DfE faces a fresh set of challenges \\u2013 from \\u2018levelling up\\u2019 educational opportunities to ensuring everyone has a better start in life by improving early education and childcare.\\n\\nBut does DfE have the capacity to meet education\\u2019s challenges in the post-pandemic world? How has academisation changed the role of the department? Does it have the capacity to improve the system? And does the department devote enough time to long-term challenges?\\n\\nOn our panel to discuss these questions:\\n\\nJustine Greening, former Secretary of State for Education\\nAnne Longfield, former Children\\u2019s Commissioner for England\\nJonathan Slater, former Permanent Secretary for the Department for Education\\nRachel Sylvester, Political columnist at The Times\\nThe event was chaired by Sam Freedman, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government.\\n\\n#IfGeducation\\n\\nWe would like to thank edpol.net and the Foundation for Education Development (FED) for supporting this event.'