Like father, like son. Maybe. Maybe not. Brian Scott was the architect of reforms aimed at revolutionising the NSW public education system.

His son Mark Scott's new appointment as secretary of the NSW Department of Education has put him at the head of a public service department where reform is glacial and red tape rules.

His father failed, and it all ended in tears.

Brian Scott was at the epicentre of particularly turbulent years in NSW education. His 1989 report, Schools Renewal: a strategy to revitalise schools within the New South Wales state education system, commissioned by the new Greiner government, became the template for reform. It recommended reallocating 600 jobs, breaking up the department's administration process, the sale of the Sydney headquarters and the introduction of a teacher transfer system based on merit, not seniority.

The then Education minister Terry Metherell, set about reforming education only to be accused of tax avoidance and his subsequent offer of a public service post resulted in the resignation of Premier Nick Greiner. Then in 1994 Brian Scott resigned in disgust, citing an unworkable relationship with Mr Metherell's replacement, Virginia Chadwick, and excessive bureaucratic meddling in the administration of schools.

The Liberal  government backed away from Brian Scott's reforms but not before widespread antagonism on the part of parents with children at public schools, the NSW Teachers' Federation and sections of the ALP saw the biggest protest marches since the Vietnam war.

Over the years, the Scott family has been an exemplar of private education. The question now is can Mark Scott, having finished reforming the ABC, shake the family hoodoo on public education?

"There is a difference. I can implement change. My father was never in a position to do so," Mr Scott said.

"I know a lot of reform has been embarked upon within the department and there is strong support for those reforms and that will continue obviously. We'd be looking at the right kind of support for principals, teacher quality, literacy and numeracy standards."

Clearly Mr Scott is looking at decentralisation and pointed out the parallels with his previous job as ABC managing director.

"Both are much loved and respected institutions," he said.

"I see some real similarities between the kind of challenges we faced at the ABC and the kind of challenges we face in education ... digital transformation is in our midst, for instance, and it will be an ongoing process for both kids and teachers."

His 10-year stint at the ABC showed an ability to implement reform without treading on too many toes or alienating the more raucous interest groups.

But then management is in the Scott family DNA.

His grandfather, Walter Scott, as chairman of the Decimal Currency Board, introduced dollars and cents into Australia in 1966. His company, W.D. Scott Australia's oldest boutique management consultant firm, dominated the change agent trade and perfected the behind closed doors way of doing business long before MBAs became an epidemic.

Now 53, Mr Scott was born in the US while his father was completing studies in the then new-fangled discipline of management consultancy. The family returned to Sydney and Mark Scott was sent to Knox Grammar. A devout Christian, he remains on the board of his alma mater, although he told the Herald he intends to resign due to his new appointment.

Mr Scott has remained an ardent supporter of the private school system throughout his brilliant career. His three daughters went through private school on the north shore and his wife, Briony​ Scott, has been principal at Wenona​ girls school in North Sydney since 2011, and recently returned to work after a year off fighting cancer.

Mr Scott completed an MA and Dip.Ed at the University of Sydney, where he met his wife, taught history and English at St Andrew's Cathedral School and then worked for Liberal ministers for education Terry Metherell and Virginia Chadwick, first as a press secretary and then as a political adviser.

Amid the turmoil of the Greiner government's implosion, Mark Scott left for the US and a Masters of Public Administration at Harvard University.

His friendship with a Herald reporter resulted in his being offered the post of education editor by the newspaper's then editor-in-chief, John Alexander in 1994. But the DNA kicked in and he raced up the the ranks of news management eventually being appointed editorial director of the Fairfax newspaper and magazine division and editor-in-chief of metropolitan, regional and community newspapers.

In 2006 he was appointed the ABC's managing director. He left the ABC on April 30. Two weeks ago he was spotted walking into the Martin Place building from where Premier Mike Baird runs NSW and tongues started wagging. Mr Scott takes up his reported $500,000 appointment in August.