Posted on Wednesday 10th Jan 2018
Damian Hinds has become the new Education Secretary, replacing Justine Greening. What are the questions waiting at the top of his in-tray? And what should he do differently to avoid the sudden exit of his predecessor?
1) How to get back the political initiative?
Damian Hinds will have to re-energise the Conservatives' vision for education, finding something positive that will connect with the public.
From the perspective of 10 Downing Street, it must have seemed as though Labour was making much of the weather over schools and universities.
Parents were worried about being asked to bail out cash-starved schools. And Jeremy Corbyn's promise to scrap tuition fees had seen Labour's student vote reaching record levels.
Justine Greening seemed unenthusiastic about the prime minister's Tory heartlands view of education, characterised by the push for more grammar schools.
Latest News
19/01/22What are the Covid rules in schools and will they stay open this term?
Face coverings will no longer be compulsory in England's secondary school classrooms from 20 January.
17/01/22Thousands more Kent secondary and special school places needed over the next five years
Thousands more Kent secondary and special school places will be needed over the next five years.
11/01/22Covid: Face mask refusals in some of England's secondary schools spark parents' concern
Secondary school pupils in England returned from the Christmas break this week to new advice – to wear face coverings in lessons and to take lateral flow tests at school before heading into classrooms.
19/10/21Further strikes threatened at universities this term
Students could face more strike action at universities this term after the academics' union opened a ballot over pay, pensions and conditions. University and College Union (UCU) general secretary Jo Grady said the UK's flagship university sector was built on the "exploitation of staff". They had experienced a decade of pension cuts, collapsing pay and insecure contracts, she said. University employers said the prospect of disruption was "disappointing".
01/10/21What changes are being made to GCSEs and A-levels next year?
Department for Education says 2022 will be a ‘transition year’