DfE left with almost no ministers in the wake of chaos surrounding Boris Johnson's resignation

Donelan – who was only appointed as education secretary on Tuesday – also resigned this morning.

More than 50 ministers and parliamentary aides have resigned in the last two days.

The prime minister is expected to make a public resignation statement today.

The numbers of those resigning also include three ministers in the Department for Education on Wednesday - Will Quince, the children and families minister, closely followed by schools minister Robin Walker, and later on in the day by Alex Burghart, the skills minister.

Commenting on the resignations of almost all ministers from the DfE, Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, said, ‘It is simply not credible to claim a government is still governing when the education department almost entirely empties itself of ministers in a little over 24 hours. At the rate of resignations, there is no prospect right now of an education department fit to oversee any of the challenges of the coming weeks.  

‘We can only hope that any eventual successor, emerging from this chaos, will reflect on the Government’s recent difficulties over the Schools Bill. It is irrelevant to the actual situation in schools and the many pressing issues in education. Any Government serious about raising outcomes for young people would listen to the profession, parents and students about what is needed rather than repeating the mistakes of the most recent education ministers by trying to pursue huge structural reforms on a flimsy evidence base 

‘There are many issues that are vital to our young people and those who educate them. We need a Secretary of State to fight a battle with the Chancellor for schools funding. We need a Secretary of State to deal with the crisis in teacher recruitment and retention and support staff retention. We need a Secretary of State looking at the STRB report who can also decide to award a pay rise which at least matches inflation. The last of these is perhaps most pressing, as the summer term ends soon and school leaders must be in knowledge of the pay rise and any additional funding in order to plan their budget for next year. It is deeply inconsiderate and insulting to everyone not to resolve this matter by the end of term.’

On Twitter, the National Day Nurseries Association said, 'With the fallout from the changes in @educationgovuk, NDNA’s CEO Purnima Tanuku OBE has written to the new Chancellor asking him to urgently consider removing business rates and VAT for nurseries and to review funding rates.'

Neil Leitch, CEO of the Early Years Alliance, said, ‘It is clear that the exit of Boris Johnson throws many proposed early years changes into disarray. This is especially true for the current ratios proposals, given these changes were reportedly prompted by the prime minister himself.    

‘Whoever is appointed as the next prime minister, we hope against hope that they will lead the way in prioritising and valuing the early years sector and put forward a long-term plan for the early years that includes realistic long-term funding, focuses on the needs of the child and recognises the early years workforce as the high-quality and hardworking educators they are.   

‘For far too long, the early years has fallen further and further down the government’s priority list. Only by recognising the importance of the sector can the next Prime Minister ensure that we have an effective early education and care system that can not only survive, but thrive in the years to come.’ 

Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT, said, 'It is vital that the government’s internal turmoil does not get in the way of addressing the urgent real-world challenges facing education and the country, not least of which is the current cost-of-living crisis and its impact on schools, staff, children and families.

'Over recent months political scandal and the nature of headline politics has replaced the activity of governing the nation. The impact on schools and children has been profoundly damaging.

'Schools are short of funds, the demands upon school leaders and their teams increasingly stretch  beyond the core mission of education and are unstainable. We simply do not have enough resources, teachers, leaders or children’s support services to ensure the next generation will be equipped to deal with future this country faces unless the next administration brings urgent support to education.

'We have a moment now to really grasp the nettle, reverse growing child poverty, fund schools properly, invest in children and family services, reverse the recruitment and recruitment crises of teachers and school leaders. If the next PM and cabinet fail to address the needs of young people they will not be the generation lost to covid but the generation lost to political ineptitude.

'As always school leaders stand ready to provide their advice and expertise to the government of the day. If education is to be successful those school leaders will need more than warm words about the place of education they will need tangible support.'