15 Facts About Peter Housden

Peter Housden served as Permanent Secretary to the Scottish Government from June 2010 to June 2015.

Peter Housden was previously Permanent Secretary of the Department for Communities and Local Government.

Peter Housden studied at the University of Essex where he graduated in 1973 with a First in Sociology.

Peter Housden began his career as a comprehensive school teacher in Shropshire and worked as an education officer in three county LEAs.

Peter Housden was appointed as Director of Education in Nottinghamshire in 1991.

In 1994, Peter Housden was appointed as Chief Executive and in his seven years in that post managed Nottinghamshire County Council through Local Government Review and a wide-ranging programme of modernisation.

Peter Housden joined the Department for Education and Skills in November 2001 as Director General for Schools.

Peter Housden had overall responsibility for all the Department's work in schools and in early years, and for current priorities on primary standards and secondary reform.

Peter Housden held this role until his appointment as Permanent Secretary of ODPM in 2005.

Peter Housden was appointed Permanent Secretary to the Scottish Government from June 2010.

Peter Housden was a member of the UK Civil Service Board and its Senior Leadership Committee.

Peter Housden delivered the Frank Stacey Memorial Lecture at the 2013 Annual Conference of the Public Administration Committee of the Joint University Council of the Applied Social Sciences where he made the case for a distinct 'Scottish approach' to government.

Peter Housden is a Vice-President of the RNLI, having previously served as a Trustee.

Peter Housden was the Chair of The Civil Service Club.

Peter Housden was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in the 2010 Birthday Honours.