[5] In May 2010, DCSF had four main sites: Charlie Brooker, writing in The Guardian, expressed incredulity that the department was supportive of Brain Gym, despite its broad condemnation by scientific organisations, and despite it being apparently nonsense.

[7] Upon learning that the programme was used at hundreds of UK state schools, Dr Ben Goldacre of The Guardian's Bad Science pages called it a "vast empire of pseudoscience" and went on to dissect parts of their teaching materials, refuting, for instance, claims that rubbing the chest would stimulate the carotid arteries, that "processed foods do not contain water", or that liquids other than water "are processed in the body as food, and do not serve the body's water needs.

"[8] The department adopted a "child friendly" visual identity, known as "Building the Rainbow" shortly after it was established.

It was reported in The Daily Telegraph that several thousand pounds were spent on adopting and implementing this visual identity.

[13] Other features include a grand glass and steel staircase and imported Italian designer furniture.