Theresa May is soon to become Britain’s new Prime Minister following her only challenger Andrea Leadsom stepping down yesterday. Ms May is the longest-serving home secretary and the most powerful Conservative woman since Margaret Thatcher. She is well-known for her work in the Home Office, but what are her views on Education?

Once she takes over no. 10 her first job will me to appoint a unity cabinet with a good mix of ministers who supported leave and remain. Will she keep people in their current jobs or attempt a clear out that introduces some new faces? What does this mean for Nicky Morgan? She backed Michael Gove’s leadership bid and is currently facing backlash from the NUT to resign following the results of the new SATs test. At this stage it is unclear if Ms Morgan will be moved or kept in place to ensure the implementation of her white paper plans.

The TES reports on six things we know about Ms May’s attitude to education:

1. She is state-educated
Ms May had a varied education in both the private and state sector. The daughter of a vicar, she briefly attended a Catholic private school in Oxford. At 13, she gained a place at Holton Park Girls Grammar school (became Wheatley Park Comprehensive school whilst she was there).

2. She served as shadow secretary of state for education and employment from 1999-2001
Newspaper cuttings from 2001 report her criticising government plans to introduce anger management classes for three-year-olds. "At 3, it should be parents who are responsible for ensuring children are behaving properly. The idea of a three-year-old sitting down with a counsellor to discuss anger management is surely taking things too far even by New Labour's standards.

3. She may support the return of grammars
Ms May gave her blessing to a grammar school “annexe” in her Berkshire constituency of Maidenhead.

4. She backs free schools
Ms May has been a vocal supporter of free schools, particularly the Eton-sponsored Holyport College, a state boarding school in her constituency.

5. She wants police and crime commissioners to run free schools
Ms May told the thinktank Policy Exchange that police and crime commissioners should have a role in setting up alternative provision free schools, “bringing together the two great reforms of the last Parliament – police reform and school reform”. The move would support troubled young children and prevent them falling into a life of crime, she added.

6. She plans to bring about “serious social reform”
Her speech launching her leadership bid spelled out that she intends to tackle inequality in society, stating that: “If you’re a white, working-class boy, you’re less likely than anybody else to go to university. If you’re at a state school, you’re less likely to reach the top professions than if you’re educated privately.”