Theresa May has appointed Justine Greening as the Education Secretary and minister for women and equalities as part her cabinet reshuffle. Nicky Morgan who has faced heavy criticism in recent weeks was sacked from both posts earlier this morning. She was “Disappointed not to be continuing as Education Secretary & Min for Women & Equalities - two wonderful roles it's been a privilege to hold." After her replacement was replaced, she added: "Congrats to my successor JustineGreening - she's committed to excellence in education, equalities and did great work for women at DIFID." The new has carved up the cabinet bringing in a host of new faces onto the frontbench, particularly bringing more females onto the frontline.  

The new Education Secretary will be taking on a bigger role which now includes the higher education and further education budgets. To bring every aspect of education under one roof has been a long-desire of former education secretary Michael Gove. The Association of School and College Leaders said that the new education secretary would face the "stark reality" of schools facing "real-terms funding cuts and a teacher recruitment crisis". "We urgently need greater investment in the education system," said Malcolm Trobe, leader of the head teachers' union. He also called for no delay in implementing a national funding formula for schools, announced by the previous Education Secretary. Kevin Courtney, leader of the National Union of Teachers, said Ms Greening would have to tackle problems with teacher recruitment, excessive working hours and lack of school funding. "Testing and assessment is in complete disarray," said Mr Courtney. Russell Hobby, leader of the National Association of Head Teachers, called for the end of the "chaos and confusion" of this year's controversial primary school Sats tests. He told Ms Greening that the "government has not won the argument on academies" and that good and outstanding schools should be allowed to remain part of their local authority if they chose.  

Who is Justine Greening?
Ms Greening is believed to be the first Education Secretary to have attended a comprehensive school, Oakwood Comprehensive in Rotherham. Unlike her predecessors Nicky Morgan and Michael Gove she did not go to Oxford University. She graduated from the University of Southampton where she studied Economics and has an MBA from the London Business School. Before entering parliament in 2005 as the MP for Putney, Roehampton and Southfields, she worked as an accountant/finance managers for large firms such as Price Water Coopers, GlaxoSmithKline and Centrica. Ms Greening the pro-Remain female MP has served as David Cameron’s International Development Secretary since 2012. Prior to that in 2011 she was appointed to the role of Secretary of State for Transport and before that after the 2010 election she was appointed as the Economic Secretary to the Treasury within the Coalition Government. She has been a major advocate for girls’ education in her role as international development secretary.

Last month, she staged a Girls’ Education Forum in a bid to bring global attention to the issue of girls’ education. Her past work includes leading the UK’s efforts to combat Ebola in Sierra Leone and worked to end female genital mutilation and forced marriages to improve the lives of women and girls. In February 2013 she was assessed as one of the 100 most powerful women in the United Kingdom by Woman's Hour on BBC Radio 4. Her first job was in Morrisons supermarket. No other education secretary is recorded as having worked there, however Margaret Thatcher’s father was a greengrocer and she was raised in a flat above the shop, which she worked in from a young age. (Yes, Thatcher was once an education secretary).
She is also openly gay, having come out at London's Pride festival last month. She tweeted: "Today's a good day to say I'm in a happy same sex relationship, I campaigned for Stronger In but sometimes you're better off out! #Pride2016."

The post went viral and she received overwhelming support from across the country. Leaving Downing Street after the announcement, Ms Greening reportedly told onlookers it was her “perfect job.”