Gavin Williamson becomes new education secretary

Gavin Williamson has been appointed the new education secretary, replacing Damian Hinds who was sacked earlier this evening.

A former defence secretary in Theresa May’s government, Williamson has been the MP for South Staffordshire since 2010.

He was educated at a comprehensive, before taking his A-levels at Scarborough Sixth Form College.

He has previously spoken in the House of Commons on the topic of apprenticeships.

In a debate in March 2013, he said: “Apprenticeships have a vital role to play in driving down unemployment and getting young people into work.”

He also told the Commons: “We have to ensure people understand apprenticeships are as good, if not better than going to university.”

Williamson was sacked as defence secretary in May this year following allegations he leaked confidential information. He strongly denies the allegations.

He is the fifth education secretary in the space of just over five years.

Absolutely honoured to be appointed Secretary of State for Education by our new Prime Minister @BorisJohnson. Very much looking forward to working with the fantastic team at @educationgovuk

— Gavin Williamson MP (@GavinWilliamson) July 24, 2019

Association of Employment and Learning Providers chief executive Mark Dawe said AELP is “greatly encouraged” that Williamson was championing apprenticeships in the House of Commons “only six months after the Richard blueprint for the apprenticeship reforms was published”.

“We therefore welcome him to his new post and hope that he will translate the prime minister’s recent promise into action that apprenticeships should be ‘funded properly’,” he added.

Steve Frampton, president of the Association of Colleges said Williamson has stepped into the education secretary role at “one of the most crucial times in modern history”.

“The House of Common’s own education select committee this week released a report that warns that the education system risks ‘reaching breaking point’ unless government acts. And so we urge him to act and act quickly,” he added.

Fraser Whieldon

Fraser has been at FE Week for almost three years now and has fallen head over heels for the FE and skills sector because of its inspiring staff and students and how it more often than not changes the lives of those involved. His areas of focus include provider best practice, how FE and skills impact upon social issues such as sustainability and gender identity, college finances, continual professional development, and of course his beloved Movers and Shakers column. He previously worked at a local newspaper in his adopted home of St Albans and has a degree in politics from the University of Kent. Outside of work, he enjoys archery with his dad and planning events for a St Albans-based social group he somehow ended up helping run.

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