Written question asked by Emma Lewell (Labour) on Tuesday, 27 February 2018, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 5 March 2018 (named day). It was answered by Nadhim Zahawi (Conservative) on Monday, 5 March 2018 on behalf of the Department for Education.

What Works Network: Contracts

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what monitoring arrangements there are for the contracts given to (a) the NESTA consortium and (b) Cardiff University in relation to the What Works Centre.

Answer

Both contracts with NESTA and Cardiff University are monitored through the following mechanisms:

A joint weekly meeting to review progress, deliverables, risks and budgets as well as agreeing priorities for the week ahead. The Department for Education’s (DfE) What Works Centre (WWC) management team lead the meeting.
A joint monthly contract and finance review against key performance indicators. DfE WWC management team lead this meeting.
A WWC steering group comprising the Chief Social Worker and senior DfE officials, (and by invitation, sector experts, where applicable to the issues arising) meets monthly.
Key decisions are presented to a strategy board comprising senior DfE officials and chaired by Indra Morris, Director General for Social Care, Mobility and Equalities.

Secondary information