With five education secretaries in four months and a changing ministerial line up, the Department for Education has experienced upheaval since September. But it seems to have settled now, with new positions confirmed. So what does the new Department for Education look like? The turbulence within the Department for Education began when former prime minister Boris Johnson replaced the then-education secretary Gavin Williamson with Nadhim Zahawi. After that, following ministerial resignations and changes to the premiership, four more education secretaries were appointed. Michelle Donelan followed Zahawi and was in post for two days, James Cleverly then took the position for 61 days and was replaced by Kit Malthouse, who served as education secretary for 49 days. Now Gillian Keegan is the current education secretary, and remains in post in prime minister Rishi Sunak’s government. Alongside changes to the education secretary, the ministers in charge of education also changed. So who makes up the Department for Education now? Gillian Keegan Gillian Keegan is the current education secretary, having taken post on 25 October 2022. The MP for Chichester in West Sussex was born in Leigh, Lancashire. Keegan went to primary school in Yorkshire and completed her secondary education at a comprehensive school in Knowsley, Merseyside. She started work as an apprentice at Delco Electronics, a
Politics
Who’s now in the Department for Education?
Nick Gibb was schools minister for nine years before being removed from his position when former prime minister Boris Johnson reshuffled the cabinet. Gibb has had a long and influential career within the Department for Education, serving as Shadow Minister for Schools from 2005 until 2010, and as Minister of State for Schools from then until September 2012, a position he returned to in 2014 and retained. He had significant influence on education policy, particularly around phonics and children’s reading. He is a divisive figure, with some liking his traditional methods, while more progressive educationalists do not.
Robert Halfon Robert Halfon was appointed Minister of State at the Department for Education on 26 October 2022. He was previously Minister of State at the Department for Education from subsidiary of General Motors in 17 July 2016 to 12 June 2017. Kirkby aged 16. Whilst learning The MP for Harlow is the chair of about the manufacturing industry the Education Select Committee. In she was sponsored to study a this role, he scrutinises government degree in Business Studies at policy and leads the debate on ideas Liverpool John Moores University. on how to improve education. In February 2020, Gillian worked at the The Education Committee Department for Education has recently raised concerns about where she was the the lack of resources in the SEND Minister responsible system and funding being for Apprenticeships Alongs targeted at more costly, and Skills – late-stage interventions. becoming the change ide The Committee is first apprentice the edu s to urging the Government to to serve as c a t i o n secreta heighten accountability for the Minister ry, the ministe schools and councils falling responsible r s short on SEND requirements for them. educati in charge of on have and to increase support for Keegan families navigating spent many change also d the SEND system. years living and The Committee also lead an working abroad in inquiry into the government’s catch the manufacturing, up programme, and found that it risks banking and IT failing pupils who need it the most, industries, most recently as and urged the government chief marketing officer for Travelport, to prove it is working. a travel technology company. Halfon attended the University of Exeter, where he read for a bachelor Nick Gibb of arts degree in politics before a Former schools minister Nick Gibb has master of arts in Russian and been reappointed as a minister for state East European politics. E at the Department for Education.
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