Minister of State for Schools

Last updated
United Kingdom
Minister of State for School Standards
Coat of arms of the United Kingdom (2022, lesser arms).svg
Incumbent
Vacant
since 6 September 2025
Department for Education
Style Minister
Nominator Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
AppointerThe Monarch
on advice of the Prime Minister
Term length At His Majesty's pleasure
Website https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/minister-of-state-for-schools

The role of Minister of State for School Standards, [1] formerly Minister of State for Schools [2] is a mid-level position in the Department for Education in the British government.

Contents

The current minister is Vacant

History

In the Major ministries, the role was known as Minister of State for Education and Science and Minister of State for Education.

In the Brown ministry (2007 to 2010), the position of Minister of State for Schools and Learning worked at the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

In the Cameron ministries, the role was known as Minister of State for Schools.

Under Liz Truss's tenure, the role was demoted to a parliamentary under-secretary position known as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for School Standards. [3] [4]

Responsibilities

The minister is responsible for the following: [5]

List of ministers

NamePortraitTook officeLeft officePolitical partyPrime Minister
Minister of State, Education and Science
Angela Rumbold

MP for Mitcham and Morden

June 198724 July 1990 Conservative Margaret Thatcher

(Third Thatcher ministry)

Tim Eggar

MP for Enfield North

24 July 199014 April 1992 Conservative John Major

(First Major ministry)

The Baroness Blatch 14 April 199220 July 1994 Conservative John Major

(Second Major ministry)

Eric Forth

MP for Mid Worcestershire

20 July 19942 May 1997 Conservative John Major

(Second Major ministry)

Stephen Byers

MP for North Tyneside

2 May 199727 July 1998 Labour Tony Blair

(First Blair ministry)

Estelle Morris

MP for Birmingham Yardley

Official portrait of Baroness Morris of Yardley crop 2, 2019.jpg 28 July 19988 June 2001 Labour Tony Blair

(First Blair ministry)

Stephen Timms

MP for East Ham

Official portrait of Rt Hon Stephen Timms MP crop 2.jpg 11 June 200124 October 2002 Labour Tony Blair

(Second Blair ministry)

David Miliband

MP for South Shields

David Miliband 2.jpg 24 October 200216 December 2004 Labour Tony Blair

(Second Blair ministry)

Stephen Twigg

MP for Enfield Southgate

Official portrait of Stephen Twigg crop 2.jpg 16 December 20045 May 2005 Labour Tony Blair

(Second Blair ministry)

Jacqui Smith

MP for Redditch

Jacqui Smith, September 2009 cropped.jpg 6 May 2005 5 May 2006 Labour Tony Blair

(lll)

Jim Knight

MP for South Dorset

Lordjimknight2017.jpg 5 May 2006 5 June 2009 Labour Tony Blair

(lll)

Gordon Brown

(l)

Vernon Coaker

MP for Gedling

Official portrait of Vernon Coaker crop 2.jpg 8 June 200911 May 2010 Labour Gordon Brown

(l)

Minister of State for Schools
Nick Gibb

MP for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton

Nick Gibb2 (cropped).jpg 13 May 20104 September 2012 Conservative David Cameron

(Coalition)

David Laws

MP for Yeovil

David Laws Minister.jpg 4 September 20128 May 2015 Liberal Democrat David Cameron

(Coalition)

Minister of State for School Standards
Nick Gibb

MP for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton

Nick Gibb Minister.jpg 12 May 2015 15 September 2021 Conservative David Cameron
(II)
Theresa May
(I)(II)
Boris Johnson
(I)(II)
Robin Walker

MP for Worcester

Official portrait of Mr Robin Walker MP crop 2.jpg 16 September 2021 6 July 2022 Conservative Boris Johnson
(II)
Will Quince

MP for Colchester

Official portrait of Will Quince MP crop 2.jpg 7 July 2022 7 September 2022 Conservative Boris Johnson
(II)
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for School Standards
Jonathan Gullis

MP for Stoke-on-Trent North

Official portrait of Jonathan Gullis MP crop 2.jpg 8 September 202228 October 2022 Conservative Liz Truss
(I)
Minister of State for Schools
Nick Gibb

MP for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton

Official portrait of Rt Hon Nick Gibb MP crop 2.jpg 26 October 2022 13 November 2023 Conservative Rishi Sunak

(I)

Damian Hinds

MP for East Hampshire

Official portrait of Damian Hinds MP crop 2.jpg 13 November 2023 5 July 2024 Conservative
Minister of State for School Standards
Catherine McKinnell

MP for Newcastle upon Tyne North

Official portrait of Catherine McKinnell MP crop 2, 2024.jpg 8 July 20246 September 2025 Labour Keir Starmer

(I)

References

  1. "Minister of State (Minister for School Standards) - GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 2024-07-23.
  2. "Minister of State (Minister of State for Schools) - GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 2022-11-08.
  3. "Profile: Robin Walker, Minister for School Standards". schoolsweek.co.uk. 2021-11-05. Retrieved 2022-03-30.
  4. "Schools minister rebuffs calls to decolonise English curriculum". The Guardian . 2021-07-21. Retrieved 2022-03-30.
  5. "Minister of State for School Standards - GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 2020-10-31.