Sir Theodore Agnew, previously a non-executive board member of the Department for Education, has been appointed to the same role at the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), now led by former education secretary Michael Gove.

The appointment comes amid a MoJ shake-up – with four non-executives stepping down.

During his time at the Department for Education (DfE), Sir Theodore’s role came under increasing scrutiny.

Appointed as a non-executive member in 2010, Sir Theodore became chair of the department’s Academies Board in 2013. The board regulates academy chains, including Inspiration Trust, which runs six schools and two sixth form college, and which Sir Theodore also chairs.

A major Conservative party donor, he has given £134,000 to the party since 2006 for campaigning purposes and is a trustee of right-leaning think tank Policy Exchange, founded by Mr Gove.

In September 2014, after an investigation by Schools Week, Sir Theodore resigned as a non-executive director of a second academy chain, Future Academies, founded by education minister Lord Nash.

In the 2015 New Year’s Honours he received a knighthood for services to education.

He has not yet been replaced on the DfE board.