MUCH confusion has reigned over the shock resignation of Michael Bichard, head mandarin at the Department for Education and Employment. What on earth had come over the man to give up a pound;140,000-plus salary at the top of the education world, six years short of retirement? There were whispers of a protest over the direction of education policy or the slow pace of civil service reform.
But perhaps there were more straightforward reasons? Barely two weeks after Sir Michael’s resignation, the London Institute (a collection of art and design colleges) announced a replacement for retiring rector Sir William Stubbs. Imagine our surprise when we read that one Sir Michael Bichard was taking up the pound;140,000-plus job, near the top of the higher education pay scale.
