Change at the DfE

At the very end of last term, Lucy Powell was appointed secretary of state for education, as part of new prime minister Andy Burnham’s cabinet announcements. She is the tenth person to hold the role in 10 years.

Lucy was born and raised in Manchester, she’s from a family of teachers and is state educated. She’s been an MP since 2012  with opposition frontbench roles including, shadow childcare and early years minister, shadow minister for the cabinet office and shadow education secretary in September 2015.

Portfolios for her new team have been confirmed:

Georgia Gould, Schools Minister will continue overseeing special education needs and disabilities (SEND) and will now also specifically oversee special schools, including independent special schools, school productivity, the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) and the relationships and sex and health education (RSHE). She will also now be responsible for pupil movement, as well as school admissions.

Josh MacAlister, Children and families minister will deputise for the education secretary. He will be responsible for children in care, children in need and looked-after children, child protection, creation of new free schools, maintenance and improvement of the education estate, environmental sustainability in the education sectors and the new responsibility of tackling antisemitism.

Paul Waugh, early education minister will cover early years education including for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), breakfast clubs, school food, including free school meals, mental health support in schools, behaviour, preventing bullying and exclusions in schools, faith schools, intervention in failing schools and school improvement, use of data, digital technology and artificial intelligence (AI) in education.

Jacqui Smith, Skills minister will remain responsible for the same areas as before, governance, intervention and accountability of further education colleges, funding for education and training, provision and outcomes for 16- to 19-year-olds and careers advice.