The government鈥檚 director general for schools, , is retiring after three decades at the Department for Education (DfE). He has held the post since 2011, with responsibilities that include academy reforms, teacher recruitment, the curriculum and exams. He was made an OBE in 2000 and received a CBE in 2019.. Andrew McCully After 37 years in the civil service, McCully will retire in March to spend more time with his family. He said the department has 鈥渁lways been a place of hugely talented, passionate, professional and caring colleagues. I know that those brilliant colleagues will continue the amazing work they do and go from strength to strength鈥�. Susan Acland-Hood, the DfE鈥檚 permanent secretary, praised a 鈥渂rilliant public servant, whose experience, adroitness and integrity are second to none鈥�.聽 McCully had led with 鈥渃onsistency, knowledge and wisdom through a notable period of improvement in school standards,鈥�, she said. Geoff Barton, the general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said it had valued the constructive way in which he engaged with the heads鈥� union. 鈥淗e exemplifies the best principles of the civil service and we will miss working with him.鈥� A recruitment drive has been launched for his successor. A job application for the 拢130,000 a year post says they will lead the mission 鈥渢o raise school standards鈥� and be responsible for ongoing academy reforms. They must be an 鈥渋nspirational leader鈥� who sets a 鈥渃lear direction鈥� for the DfE within their 鈥渃hallenging brief鈥�. Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed by a panel whose members include Sir Hamid Patel, chief executive of Star Academies, and Paul Gray from the Civil Service Commission. Applications close on January 25.