Commenting on the appointment of Bridget Phillipson as the new Secretary of State for Education, Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union, NAHT said:

“I offer a warm welcome, and congratulations to Bridget Phillipson on her appointment as the Secretary of State for Education. We hope that she is able to bring about the stability and reset that the education sector desperately needs. There is no more important job in government than ensuring children and young people receive the world-class education they deserve.

“Over the last 14 years, the crises in education have grown out of control; the patchy state of SEND provision, the worst recruitment and retention crisis in living memory, the dilapidated state of school buildings, and the broken accountability system. Being Education Secretary is a fantastic job – we should not underestimate the scale of the task the new government will now face. NAHT stand ready to work with the new government and we look forward to working with Bridget, and her team in years ahead.”