What is an executive agency?

Executive agencies were created to enable certain functions within government to be carried out by a defined business unit with a clear focus on delivering specified outputs. Unlike arm's length bodies, which have their own governance structures, executive agencies are directly accountable to ministers.

The Cabinet Office website has guidance on the creation, review and dissolution of executive agencies.

In summary

Executive agencies:

are clearly designated units within a government department (such as the Department for Education) which are responsible for undertaking the executive functions of that department, as distinct from giving policy advice
are independently accountable within their department – they have agency-specific targets which are reported directly to ministers, and produce their own annual reports and accounts
are financially viable – in other words, adequately resourced to achieve challenging targets as outlined in their business or corporate plan

The timescale for becoming an executive agency has still to be agreed. Commenting on the change, Steve Munby, Chief Executive of the National College, said:

“School leadership has never been more important and I welcome the prominence the coalition government has given to it in the White Paper. The National College has been supporting outstanding heads as they support others since 2006. The expansion of our National and Local Leaders of Education programmes; the roll-out of teaching schools and the designation of specialist leaders of education will change the face of education in this country forever. In our new status as an Executive Agency, we will continue to operate in a way that retains our special relationship with leaders for children and young people. With value-for-money as our key priority, we look forward to supporting the next generation of leaders.”