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Ministerial role

Secretary of State for Education

Organisations: Department for Education
Current role holder: The Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP

Responsibilities

The Secretary of State is responsible for the work of the Department for Education, including:

  • early years and childcare
  • children’s social care
  • teacher quality, recruitment and retention
  • the school curriculum
  • school improvement
  • academies and free schools
  • further education
  • apprenticeships and skills
  • higher education

Current role holder

The Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP

Lucy Powell was appointed Secretary of State for Education on 20 July 2026.

She was previously Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons between 5 July 2024 and 5 September 2025.

She was elected as the MP for Manchester Central in July 2024.

More about this person

Previous holders of this role

  1. The Rt Hon Bridget Phillipson MP

    2024 to 2026

  2. The Rt Hon Gillian Keegan

    2022 to 2024

  3. The Rt Hon Kit Malthouse MP

    2022 to 2022

  4. The Rt Hon James Cleverly MP

    2022 to 2022

  5. The Rt Hon Michelle Donelan

    2022 to 2022

  6. The Rt Hon Nadhim Zahawi

    2021 to 2022

  7. The Rt Hon Sir Gavin Williamson CBE MP

    2019 to 2021

  8. The Rt Hon Damian Hinds MP

    2018 to 2019

  9. The Rt Hon Justine Greening

    2016 to 2018

  10. The Rt Hon Baroness Nicky Morgan

    2014 to 2016

  11. The Rt Hon Michael Gove

    2010 to 2014