Damian Hinds returns as schools minister

As reported on CYP Now, former Education Secretary rejoins Department for Education, aiming to continue education standards

Damian Hinds, MP for East Hampshire since May 2010, served as Secretary of State for Education between January 2018 and July 2019 before being replaced by Gavin Williamson when Boris Johnson became Prime Minister.

Hinds has been working as prisons minister since October 2022.

He previously served as Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury from 2015, until he was made employment minister at the Department for Work and Pensions by Theresa May in 2016.

His appointment coincides with the resignation of longstanding schools minister Nick Gibb amid Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s cabinet reshuffle this week.

Writing on X, formerly Twitter, DfE but Education Secretary Gillian Keegan wrote: “Delighted to welcome Damian Hinds back as the new schools minister.

“He is a hugely experienced and capable minister who I know will continue to build on Nick Gibb fantastic record of driving up standards.”

On Hinds’ appointment, Baker Dearing Educational Trust chief executive Simon Connell said: “We welcome Damian Hinds’ return to the Department for Education and look forward to working with him on widening access to technical education.”