New faces - Who's who at the DfE

Will Quince is the new children and families minister in Boris Johnson’s reshuffle, with the Department for Education now headed by Nadhim Zahawi.

Quince was previously a junior minister in the Department for Work and Pensions.

He said, ‘A good education is the foundation for success for any young person, but improving their life chances goes well beyond getting good grades or qualifications. It’s also about making sure children are safe, protected and happy, which can be pivotal in putting them on
the right path to reaching their full potential. 

‘Children, young people, their parents and carers can be assured that I will be a champion for them across Government.’

Quince, 38, was elected MP for Colchester in 2015, in a seat held by the Liberal Democrats.

According to his website, he lives with his wife, two young daughters and dog in Prettygate, Colchester.

He worked in business and as a solicitor before becoming an MP, and was also a councillor for five years. He set up a cross-party group working with the Government to halve the stillbirth and neonatal death rate. This year he is running the London Marathon in aid of Sands, the baby-loss charity, in memory of his son, Robert, who was stillborn in 2014.

Quince’s responsibilities:

• Early years policy and childcare, including funding, providers, workforce, Children’s Centres, home learning environment and childcare entitlements.
• Children’s social care, including system and funding, workforce, child protection, children in care, adoption, care-leavers and local authority performance.
• Special educational needs, including high-needs funding.
• Alternative provision.
• Disadvantage and social mobility (including links to the Social Mobility Commission).
• School food, including free school meals.
• Children and young people’s mental health, online safety and preventing bullying.
• Policy to protect against serious violence.
• Coronavirus (Covid-19) response for children’s services and childcare.

Who's who at the DfE

Michelle Donellan, universities minister, is the only remaining member of the former ministerial team. Here is the new line-up:

Secretary of State for Education, Nadhim Zahawi. It’s the second time around in the department for the MP for Stratford-upon-Avon, who was children’s minister from January 2018 to July 2019.

Minister for children and families, Will Quince replaces Vicky Ford, who has moved to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office as minister for Africa.

Minister for school standards, Robin Walker replaces Nick Gibb.

Minister for universities, Michelle Donellan 

Minister for apprenticeships and skills, Alex Burghart 

Minister for the school system (academies minister), Baroness Diana Barran