Gillian Keegan’s special adviser is set to return to a non-political civil service role as senior policy adviser in the Department for Education.
Rory Gribbell has previously worked as special adviser to former education secretary Kit Malthouse, schools minister Nick Gibb’s teacher in residence and head of education in the Downing Street Policy Unit.
His new full job title will be senior policy adviser on schools and cross-cutting policy, looking at design to implementation of policy.
Commenting on the move, Mr Gribbell said he was “delighted” to be returning to the civil service to “take up the role of senior policy adviser to the secretary of state”.
“It has been a huge privilege to spend the past seven years working with the brilliant team at the DfE”, Mr Gribbell said.
He added: “I am hugely proud of the work we have done together, including the reforms to teacher training and development, navigating a return to exams following the pandemic and resolving industrial action while securing record investment in schools.”
“Every day at DfE, we work to improve the lives of children. I am grateful for the opportunity to continue as part of the team and cannot wait to start the new role after enjoying paternity leave.”
Mr Gribbell has worked closely with Ms Keegan over the last few months in her discussions with teacher and leader unions in the pay dispute, which has now been resolved.
He has also played a key role in the controversial initial teacher training reforms and the Early Career Framework.
Mr Gribbell is a former Teach First trained teacher and was a member of the Labour Party.
But five years ago, he wrote for the Conservative Education Society about how the Left’s opposition to academies and free schools had led to him leaving the Labour Party.
