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15 April 2026

Tag: Nicky Morgan

Nicky Morgan, former education secretary

Every education secretary has a story of the day they were appointed. Estelle Morris forgot to take photo-ready shoes. Shirley Williams accepted via a late-night phone call in New York. Nicky Morgan mostly tried not to fall over. Summoned from a symposium at the Treasury (where she was financial secretary), she was told the prime […]

So it’s goodbye to the Education for All bill… or is it?

New laws forcing more schools to become academies will not happen in this academic year. That’s about the only certainty in a week of seemingly abandoned plans. It’s official. The Education for All bill is no more. Or so almost everyone was proclaiming last week when a throwaway line in a statement from Justine Greening […]

£30,000 schools grant for workload research

Schools can apply to the National College for Teaching and Leadership (NCTL) for funding to carry out in-house research on the best ways to reduce staff workload. A grant of up to £30,000 is available for schools to run their own research projects on how to “effectively” reduce either marking, planning or data management. Funding […]

Nicky Morgan sacked as education secretary in Theresa May cabinet reshuffle

Nicky Morgan has been sacked from the Department for Education after two years as its secretary of state. She tweeted this morning: “Disappointed not to be continuing as Education Secretary and Minister for Women & Equalities – two wonderful roles it’s been a privilege to hold.” It is now unclear what Morgan’s next challenge will be, but for […]

Morgan slaps down commissioner who told council not to talk to academies

Nicky Morgan has overruled one of her regional schools commissioners who told a council boss not to meet with academy heads over standards in their schools. The education secretary told gathered members of the County Councils Network this morning that they should continue to talk to academies if it’s “something you feel is appropriate”, after […]

‘Disaster’ SATs results will have ‘serious consequences’ for schools, warns Labour

The government will use the results of controversial new key stage 2 SATs tests to identify underperforming schools, Labour has warned. Shadow education secretary Angela Rayner said there would be “serious consequences” for thousands of schools after this year’s primary tests, in a parliamentary debate yesterday, branding them an “unmitigated disaster” and a “nightmare” for children. But […]

Nicky Morgan confirms Spielman choice for Ofsted chief inspector

Education secretary Nicky Morgan has confirmed she will press ahead with plans to appoint Amanda Spielman as chief inspector of Ofsted. Morgan announced her intentions in a scathing letter to education select committee chair Neil Carmichael, published this afternoon. It follows the committee recommending Spielman is rejected for the role, saying she “lacked passion” and […]

Fury over Spielman rejection ramped up by Morgan aide’s letter

Education heavyweights have today publicly backed Amanda Spielman to be the next Ofsted chief inspector after a cross-party group of MPs rejected her appointment. Among those who have publicly announced their support for Spielman this morning are Sir David Carter, the schools commissioner, and Sean Harford, Ofsted’s national director of education. Schools Week also learned […]