Politics

Nick Gibb and Robert Halfon return as education ministers

It is understood both will pick up their old jobs as new PM Rishi Sunak reportedly plans for a 'British Baccalaureate'

It is understood both will pick up their old jobs as new PM Rishi Sunak reportedly plans for a 'British Baccalaureate'

26 Oct 2022, 22:57

More from this author

Former schools minister Nick Gibb and education select committee chair Robert Halfon are both returning to the Department for Education

Gibb had served as schools minister for most of the last ten years before being sacked last year by Boris Johnson.

Halfon is also well known in the sector having served as chair of the education select committee since 2017. He was skills minister for a year before that.

Both return as ministers of state. Their roles are likely to be confirmed in the coming days.

Schools Week understands that Gibb will return to schools, with Halfon taking up a brief covering skills, an area he has been a huge advocate for.

DfE sources said current schools minister Jonathan Gullis and skills minister Andrea Jenkyns have left their roles, but there has been no official confirmation yet.

There has yet to be an appointment for the children’s minister role, currently held by Kelly Tolhurst.

It comes as new prime minister Rishi Sunak is reportedly planning education reforms including a new “British Baccalaureate’, which would require children to study a wider range of subjects in post-16 education, with English and maths compulsory.

He will also announce plans for a network of elite technical institutions, the Times reported.

However there is little time to deliver such largescale changes before the next election, in 2024. While Halfon has backed calls for a British Baccalaureate, the plans will not sit well with Gibb’s traditional education outlook.

The appointments mark a shift in experience at the department, whose ministers under Liz Truss had much less experience both as MPs and in senior roles.

Gibb said it was an “honour to be asked by the PM to return to the DfE. Looking forward to helping deliver the PM’s ambitious plans for ever higher standards in schools and world class technical education.”

Halfon also said it was an honour and is “looking forward to working with colleagues to deliver the Prime Minister’s exciting education & skills agenda to ensure every student can climb the educational ladder of opportunity”.

Former skills minister Gillian Keegan was appointed as education secretary yesterday.

She said today it was a “privilege… As a former apprentice and previous minister at the department, I know how important education is to levelling up opportunities and helping people to build the life they want.

“From childcare support and helping children in care, to improving school standards and giving both young people and adults the skills they need to get great jobs.

“I look forward to engaging with our brilliant nurseries, schools, colleges, universities and all the staff working across our sectors.”

A new education committee chair will now need to be appointed to replace Halfon.

.

Latest education roles from

Chief Education Officer (Deputy CEO)

Chief Education Officer (Deputy CEO)

Romero Catholic Academy Trust

Director of Academy Finance and Operations

Director of Academy Finance and Operations

Ormiston Academies Trust

Principal & Chief Executive

Principal & Chief Executive

Truro & Penwith College

Group Director of Marketing, Communications & External Engagement

Group Director of Marketing, Communications & External Engagement

London & South East Education Group

Sponsored posts

Sponsored post

AI Safety: From DfE Guidance to Classroom Confidence

Darren Coxon, edtech consultant and AI education specialist, working with The National College, explores the DfE’s expectations for AI...

SWAdvertorial
Sponsored post

How accurate spend information is helping schools identify savings

One the biggest issues schools face when it comes to saving money on everyday purchases is a lack of...

SWAdvertorial
Sponsored post

Building Character, Increasing Engagement and Growing Leaders: A Whole School Approach

Research increasingly shows that character education is just as important as academic achievement in shaping pupils’ long-term success. Studies...

SWAdvertorial
Sponsored post

Educators launch national AI framework to guide schools and colleges

More than 250 schools and colleges across the UK have already enrolled in AiEd Certified, a new certification framework...

SWAdvertorial

More from this theme

Politics

Labour conference 2025: Bridget Phillipson’s full speech

The education secretary addressed the party's annual conference in Liverpool

Freddie Whittaker
Politics

Labour-linked education group backs Lucy Powell for deputy leader

Backing for rival from Socialist Educational Association is a blow to education secretary Bridget Phillipson

Freddie Whittaker
Politics

Children’s minister gets beefed-up schools brief as portfolios revealed

Government has confirmed which policies new ministers will be in charge of. Here's your Schools Week guide ...

John Dickens
Politics

McKinnell: ‘I got up every day and gave it everything’

The former schools minister speaks to Schools Week after a brutal reshuffle

Freddie Whittaker

Your thoughts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *