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

IT Technician

IT Technician

Harris Academy Morden

Teacher of Geography

Teacher of Geography

Harris Academy Orpington

Lecturer/Assessor in Electrical

Lecturer/Assessor in Electrical

South Gloucestershire and Stroud College

Director of Management Information Systems (MIS)

Director of Management Information Systems (MIS)

South Gloucestershire and Stroud College

Exams Assistant

Exams Assistant

Richmond and Hillcroft Adult & Community College

Lecturer Electrical Installation

Lecturer Electrical Installation

Solihull College and University Centre

Sponsored posts

Sponsored post

It’s Education’s Time to Shine: Celebrate your Education Community in 2025!

The deadline is approaching to nominate a colleague, team, whole school or college for the 2025 Pearson National Teaching...

SWAdvertorial
Sponsored post

Navigating NPQ Funding Cuts: An Apprenticeship Success Story

Last year’s NPQ funding cuts meant that half of England’s teachers faced costs of up to £4,000 to complete...

SWAdvertorial
Sponsored post

Embedding Formative Assessment: not just a box-ticking exercise but something long-term and meaningful for all

Our EFA programme has been proven to help schools achieve better GCSE results, as evidenced by the EEF. Find...

SWAdvertorial
Sponsored post

Building capacity in family support to tackle low school attendance 

Persistent and severe school absence impacts children, families, and communities—especially in disadvantaged areas. School-Home Support’s Attendance Support and Development Programme...

SWAdvertorial

More from this theme

Politics

‘School profile’ plans revealed amid ‘new era on standards’

'Significantly strengthened' accountability will also 'raise the bar on what we expect from schools', Phillipson to say

Freddie Whittaker
Politics

Labour cost-cutting spree now hits STEM

Science teacher training and physics take-up programmes cut despite Starmer’s pledge to make England an AI ‘superpower’

Jack Dyson
Politics

Phillipson’s first education committee: 8 things we learned

Reforming the national funding formula, international SEND solutions and admissions interventions all on the agenda

Schools Week Reporter
Politics

Children’s wellbeing and schools bill: Committee calls for evidence

Intense lobbying expected as bill seeks to curtail academy freedoms

Freddie Whittaker

Your thoughts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.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