Director General for Schools Group, Department for Education (DfE)

Policy Leaders Fellow alumna, Centre for Science and Policy

Julia Kinniburgh is the Director General for Schools Group, taking on the role in January 2026.

Prior to this she was Director General for Skills Group from December 2022 to January 2026.

Julia’s previous roles in government include:

• Director General for Strategy Group at the Department for Education
• Director General for COVID-19 Response and Schools Recovery at the Department for Education
• Director General for the Serious and Organised Crime Group at the Home Office
• Director with responsibility for the national curriculum, national qualifications and school accountability at the Department for Education
• senior roles at HM Revenue & Customs and the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government

She has also held roles with the emergency services and local government.