How Government Skills is changing the way it delivers learning

Changes are under way in the way Government Skills delivers cross-government learning.

It’s the start of a journey of improvement that will see more and better learning - much of it free - and the creation of a new National School of Government and Public Services.

Here’s what you need to know:

1. The Civil Service is being clearer about what it expects you to learn

All learning is valuable. But, as civil servants, we need to prioritise the learning that matters most in helping us work quickly and innovatively to deliver brilliant services.

That’s why we’ve developed the curriculum of recommended learning. It makes it clear what skills the Civil Service expects you to learn. So it should be your first port of call when you’re considering what courses to do.

Everything on the curriculum has been selected by experts. It’s quality-assured and will give you the skills, knowledge and networks you need. It’s regularly updated so bookmark it now and use it as a go-to reference.

2. We’re adding to our collection of free courses all the time

The number of free courses on our curriculum of recommended learning is growing all the time. It’s learning you could do without permissions or sign-off, except for time to study.

So if you want to improve your skills on anything from digital, data, innovation and artificial intelligence to writing or parliamentary processes, head to our A to Z of best free courses for civil servants for our full offer.

3. We’re delivering more learning in-house and satisfaction rates are soaring

Much of our new learning is being developed in-house, by civil servants for civil servants. 

For example, our Beyond boundaries development programme for civil servants from grades AA to SEO was brought in-house last year. Civil servants from across government have completed the new, updated version and it’s won high praise  with satisfaction rates soaring.

4. We’re changing the way civil servants in some departments book courses

All booked courses have a cost. But, from April 2026, a number of leadership and management courses have been free to book for civil servants in many departments. Refer to your department’s intranet for details of which courses are available to you and how to book them. 

5. We’re preparing the ground for the launch of the National School of Government and Public Services

Together, these changes are part of the groundwork we’re putting in place ahead of the launch of the National School of Government and Public Services. The Government announced plans to create the new school in January and its purpose is to support ambitions for a world-class, professional civil service.

• For updates on the National School of Government and Public Services, check out Government Skills.
• And don’t forget to bookmark the Curriculum of recommended learning.