Briefs confirmed for new Department for Education ministers

The Department for Education has confirmed the briefs of its new ministers.

Nick Gibb returned to the Department for Education on 26 October 2022 as a Minister of State.

His responsibilities include school accountability, inspection, standards, and primary assessment. His role also involves supporting a high-quality teaching profession including professional development, and supporting recruitment and retention of teachers, including initial teacher training.

Gibb's duties also cover the National Tutoring Programme, school revenue funding, including the national funding formula for schools, and pupil premium.

Find out Gibb's full list of duties here.

Baraness Barran remained as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for the School System and Student Finance).

Her responsibilities include regulatory review and overall approach to academisation, intervention in underperforming schools and school improvement, academies and multi-academy trusts, free schools, faith schools and independent schools. Her role also covers  Education Investment Area, safeguarding and home education.

See Barran's full list of duties here.

Robert Halfon is the Minister of State (Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education)

His responsibilities include overall strategy for post-16 technical education, T Levels and transition programme, qualifications reviews, apprenticeships and traineeships
further education workforce and funding. His role also covers technical education in specialist schools, college governance and accountability, and reducing the number of young people who are not in education, employment or training.

Find out Halfon's full list of responsibilities here.

Claire Coutinho is the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Children, Families and Wellbeing).

Her responsibilities include special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), including high needs funding, alternative provision, and children’s social care. It also includes child protection, adoption, care leavers, early years and childcare, mental health, online safety and preventing bullying in schools.

Find out Coutinho's full list of duties here.

Gillian Keegan, the education secretary, meanwhile is responsible for the whole work of the Department for Education, including teacher quality, recruitment and retention, the school curriculum, school improvement, academies and free schools, further education, apprenticeships and skills, higher education. Find out more here.