The Further Education Development Agency has denied claims that public criticism of its performance led to the resignation of chief executive, Stephen Crowne.
Mr Crowne is to take up an unspecified “senior post” at the Department of Education and Employment. He has been on leave of absence from the department for four years, having previously been head of qualifications (FE). He said: “This is an irresistible career opportunity for me. A great deal is happening in the department. I will help it to understand better what it is like to be on the receiving end of policy developments.”
Terry Melia, chair of FEDA said it was not true that Mr Crowne was leaving because of criticism of the organisation. “I would much rather he stayed and helped me in the reorganisation.”
At a recent Commons education select committee hearing, Margaret Hodge MP, the chair, said: “You do leave us extremely sceptical about what pound;10 million a year and 30 staff are adding value to.”
FEDA is currently undergoing a major restructuring and selling two sites.