Teodor Grama
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teodorgrama.bsky.social
Teodor Grama
@teodorgrama.bsky.social
580 followers 290 following 110 posts
learning & development @instituteforgovernment.org.uk, fmr research assistant (civil service & policymaking), he/him
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teodorgrama.bsky.social
Teodor Grama @teodorgrama.bsky.social · Sep 4
NEW @instituteforgovernment.org.uk report just out - on how the fast stream, the civil service’s flagship talent development programme, lost its sense of purpose and how it can get it back

(A quick 🧵)
How to reform the civil service fast stream | Institute for Government
It is time to update the civil service's flagship recruitment programme.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
teodorgrama.bsky.social
The fast stream saw record application volumes in the last recruitment cycle. But different categories of applicants had different odds of getting on the scheme - with success rates for non-Russell Group candidates several times lower than those for Oxbridge applicants (0.4% to 4.7%).
A table from the Institute for Government showing civil service fast stream success rates by demographic characteristics, 2025, where the success rate for all applicants is 1.0% but varies significantly depending on demographics, ranging from 4.7% for Oxbridge applicants to 0.4% for non-Russell Group applicants.
November 12, 2025 at 4:20 PM
teodorgrama.bsky.social
Come join us next Monday for a conversation about all things fast stream!
instituteforgovernment.org.uk Institute for Government @instituteforgovernment.org.uk · 5d
Are you interested in the fast stream’s role in the wider civil service recruitment ecosystem, and what the future fast stream reform efforts focus on?

Join us next Monday for our event How can the fast stream deliver more for the civil service?

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/civil-...
November 11, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Reposted by Teodor Grama
amberdellar.bsky.social
NEW REPORT Labour is struggling to meet its education priorities. It has big ambitions to improve schools, but a budget that falls short of matching them. And with no clear plans to reform the SEND system or tackle workforce shortages, children are being left without the support they need.
Performance Tracker 2025: Schools | Institute for Government
It will be extremely difficult for the government to meet its education priorities within the budget it has set for the coming parliament.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
November 6, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Reposted by Teodor Grama
gemmatetlow.bsky.social
For too long, growth-enhancing tax reforms have been prevented by the intense political heat that surrounds any such changes. This new report should help create space for this and future governments to make much-needed improvements www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/cros...
Cross-party agreement can create political space for tax reform | Institute for Government
It is time to take the political heat out of attempts to reform the tax system.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
November 6, 2025 at 10:28 AM
Reposted by Teodor Grama
instituteforgovernment.org.uk
Former Conservative MP Danny Kruger is leading Reform UK’s preparations for government.

@alexgathomas.bsky.social finds Kruger’s plans for civil service reform to be a mix of the conventional and the concerning www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/dann...
Danny Kruger has set out a mixed bag of government reforms | Institute for Government
Former Conservative MP Danny Kruger is leading Reform UK’s preparations for government.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
October 30, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Reposted by Teodor Grama
timdurrant.bsky.social
Another day, another standards question facing this government... while the PM shut this case down very quickly, ministers across government need to actually learn from it this time

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/rach...
Rachel Reeves’ rental mistake is another standards warning to Keir Starmer’s ministers | Institute for Government
Standards slip-ups are distracting and damaging the Starmer government.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
October 30, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Reposted by Teodor Grama
cassiarowland.bsky.social
New comment from me on the mistaken release of Hadush Kebatu: this error reflects much broader problems within prisons and across the criminal justice system
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/pris...
The mistaken release of Hadush Kebatu is a symptom of a failing system | Institute for Government
The problems in criminal justice run far deeper than one high-profile error.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
October 28, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Reposted by Teodor Grama
rebeccamckee.bsky.social
New @instituteforgovernment.org.uk comment from me

The chaos surrounding the grooming gangs inquiry last week highlights much deeper problems with the way the government sets up public inquiries

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/groo...
The government must explain and defend its grooming gang inquiry decisions | Institute for Government
Some disagreement when setting up an inquiry isn’t necessarily bad – but how it is handled matters.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
October 27, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Reposted by Teodor Grama
hcdunlop.bsky.social
My thoughts on the recently shared Nick Timothy review for the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk:

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/shab...
Shabana Mahmood must make the Home Office “fit for purpose” | Institute for Government
The Nick Timothy review reveals some familiar and worrying failings about the Home Office.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
October 24, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Reposted by Teodor Grama
stuarthoddinott.bsky.social
Reform-led Worcestershire County Council (WCC) have published a briefing about their financial position, explaining why they might have to raise council tax by 10%

It's a pretty perfect encapsulation of the extreme financial pressures facing most local authorities

Key points 👇
October 24, 2025 at 9:48 AM
Reposted by Teodor Grama
cassiarowland.bsky.social
NEW REPORT Criminal justice is coming apart at the seams. Police, criminal courts & prisons can’t cope with the level of demand and performance keeps spiralling downwards. Early positive steps from the government won't be enough to turn things around
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...
Performance Tracker 2025: Criminal justice system | Institute for Government
The government must act to avoid the justice system returning to the crisis point seen when Labour entered office, or worse.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
October 23, 2025 at 6:44 AM
Reposted by Teodor Grama
alexgathomas.bsky.social
Some - cautious - good news on the govt’s civil service gagging rules

Nick Thomas-Symonds has written to us rowing back on the worst aspects: “it is important for civil servants to speak in public about matters for which they have responsibility”

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/welc...
A welcome clarification on the rules ‘gagging’ civil servants | Institute for Government
New guidance on civil servants speaking in public is a welcome return to common sense.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
October 23, 2025 at 10:27 AM
Reposted by Teodor Grama
instituteforgovernment.org.uk
EVENT | Leadership change in the civil service: How can new permanent secretaries deliver for government?

📅 Monday 3 November, 12:30-13:30

With Atul Devani, John-Paul Marks CB, Baroness Gisela Stuart and @alexgathomas.bsky.social www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/leader...
An image ad for an Institute for Government event. Leadership change in the civil service: How can new permanent secretaries deliver for government? Monday 03 November 2025, 12:30 — 13:30 (GMT) Speakers Atul Devani, Civil Service Commissioner and entrepreneur John-Paul Marks CB, First Permanent Secretary and Chief Executive of HM Revenue and Customs Baroness Gisela Stuart, First Civil Service Commissioner
October 17, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Reposted by Teodor Grama
amberdellar.bsky.social
4 patterns we're seeing in adult social care, children's social care and homelessness services (with graphs)

And what govt should do about it

A thread from @instituteforgovernment.org.uk's NEW jumbo report (read 1 get 3 free) on the state of local government services and finance 👇
Public Services Performance Tracker 2025 | Institute for Government
Labour’s public service plans are less than the sum of their parts.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
October 16, 2025 at 9:20 AM
Reposted by Teodor Grama
stuarthoddinott.bsky.social
NEW REPORT: Local authorities have been struggling with pressures from austeirty for years, but there are signs that pressure is now particularly acute

As a result, they are having to make tough decisions about finances and services

🧵👇 on findings

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...
Performance Tracker 2025: Local government overview | Institute for Government
The government is making good progress towards rebalancing local government funding. But the sector shows signs of mounting financial distress.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
October 16, 2025 at 8:58 AM
Reposted by Teodor Grama
shaina-sangha.bsky.social
PSA: We have a new (and long) @instituteforgovernment.org.uk explainer out on the immigration and asylum policies of the major parties (of England...) following a flurry of announcements all year and around conference season, in particular.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/im...
Immigration and asylum: Labour, Conservative, Lib Dem, Reform and Green positions | Institute for Government
What have the different political parties announced on immigration and asylum in the run up to – and during – the 2025 autumn conference season?
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
October 15, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Reposted by Teodor Grama
amberdellar.bsky.social
Really interesting read from Schools Week on pooling high-needs budgets at the level of multiple schools, rather than having it tied to pupils and EHCPs.

Very brief 🧵👇
schoolsweek.bsky.social Schools Week @schoolsweek.bsky.social · Oct 13
A 'locality clusters' funding model is being considered as part of government reforms to the special needs system, but what is it, and what are the benefits and risks?

Schools Week investigates…
schoolsweek.co.uk
October 13, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Reposted by Teodor Grama
instituteforgovernment.org.uk
The Civil Service Fast Stream applications open today!
@teodorgrama.bsky.social has updated our explainer on the government’s flagship talent development programme:

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/ci...
Civil service fast stream | Institute for Government
One of several ways into the civil service, the fast stream is the government’s flagship talent development programme.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
October 9, 2025 at 10:09 AM
Reposted by Teodor Grama
sammacrory.bsky.social
NEW: Mel Stride’s civil service savings are more signal than substance

@alexgathomas.bsky.social & @jackworlidge.bsky.social give the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk verdict on Mel Stride's civil service savings

(& yes, it's a fantasy numbers game)

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/mel-...
Mel Stride’s civil service savings are more signal than substance | Institute for Government
Setting a civil service headcount target is too simplistic.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
October 6, 2025 at 3:08 PM
teodorgrama.bsky.social
Between record application numbers and topping the THE graduate employer ranking, recent weeks have brought a lot of excellent news for the fast stream.

There is a major opportunity here for the civil service to grasp. Here's how.

Me for @civilserviceworld.bsky.social:
Booming interest in the Fast Stream is good news – and a major opportunity
Growing levels of interest in the programme from talented graduates could, through well-targeted reforms, be leveraged to deliver substantial retur...
www.civilserviceworld.com
September 30, 2025 at 12:23 PM
teodorgrama.bsky.social
Excellent coverage of the latest fast stream recruitment data from @tevyemarkson.bsky.social (also featuring analysis from our recent @instituteforgovernment.org.uk report). The CSFS is attracting rising numbers of applicants – so what happens once they're on the scheme is even more important.
September 26, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Reposted by Teodor Grama
howesdaniel.bsky.social
Special Delivery! @emma-conway.bsky.social and I have been thinking about how Keir Starmer and co (especially Darren Jones) can make a success of 'phase two' - which is all about delivering on the government's priorities. Read more here: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/star...
How Keir Starmer’s government can be built for delivery | Institute for Government
The prime minister can learn from the past to make a success of “phase two” of his government.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
September 24, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Reposted by Teodor Grama
drbenpaxton.bsky.social
Procurement is massively underrated as an opportunity for improvement, and where a mission-led approach could make a difference.
Our NEW REPORT explores why this change is hard, and how procurement should be used to shape markets + drive innovation🧵
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...
The role of procurement in delivering mission-led government | Institute for Government
How can the government remove the barriers to its missions?
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
September 25, 2025 at 12:18 PM
Reposted by Teodor Grama
howesdaniel.bsky.social
1/ If you've been itching to know how the size of the civil service has changed... we at the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk have you covered.

I've crunched the numbers from the latest ONS data release, which you can read about here: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/ci...
Civil service staff numbers | Institute for Government
Who exactly are civil servants and how many are there?
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
September 18, 2025 at 3:45 PM