Vicky Beer, the Department for Education鈥檚 , is set to leave the role after 11 years in post. The senior civil servant revealed that she had made the 鈥渞eally hard decision鈥� to retire at the end of April, despite being 鈥渆nergised鈥� by recent policy developments. Beer was appointed the regional schools commissioner (RSC) for Lancashire and West Yorkshire in 2015. A restructure of the RSC system saw them rebadged as regional directors, with Beer responsible for the north west. She has been in the role longer than anyone else. The Department for Education has launched its search for a replacement to move into the job and help shape the government鈥檚 strategy. Beer told Schools Week: 鈥淭here鈥檚 still lots to do in the region, but I think the way the sector works is a particular strength of the area and I feel some personal pride in helping to shape that.鈥� Before joining the civil service, Beer was an executive principal at the Dean Trust, which ran four schools across Trafford and Knowsley at the time. She was also a national leader of education and chaired one of England鈥檚 first teaching schools. She says she will fill her time travelling, gardening, paddleboarding and volunteering after retiring. ‘A hard decision’ 鈥淚t was a really hard to decision to make because there鈥檚 so much about the role I absolutely love,鈥� Beer added. 鈥淚鈥檝e been excited and energised by the direction of travel of some of the reforms as well.鈥� A page advertising the 拢125,000-a-year role says the successful candidate will help 鈥渟hape policy鈥� to better reflect local needs and regional variation鈥�. They will lead intervention in schools 鈥渨here needed鈥�, work with councils to ensure areas have sufficient pupil places and work 鈥渆ffectively鈥� with ministers. The department is on the lookout for people with 鈥渆xcellent system leadership skills gained within the education or care sector, local or national government鈥�. They should also have 鈥渄emonstrable experience of leading change inclusively with your team, including delivering system improvement and transformation鈥�. The selection process will involve shortlisted applicants being invited to a 鈥減artnership engagement conversation鈥�, with Tim Coulson, the DfE鈥檚 director general of regions group, in April. A council director of children鈥檚 services and academy trust boss will also attend. This comes after it was announced Mulberry Schools Trust chief executive Vanessa Ogden will take over as the London regional director this year. In 2024, West Midlands regional director Andrew Warren also left the department after almost six years in the position.