Downing Street is set to appoint a former adviser to Michael Gove as the head of education at the No 10 policy unit, Tes understands.

Elena Narozanski began working for Mr Gove as a children and schools adviser when the Conservatives were in opposition. After the 2010 election she was appointed special adviser to the new education secretary, a post she stayed in until February 2011. She became Mr Gove’s chief speechwriter in June 2011.

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Ms Narozanski worked at the Department for Education at a time when Mr Gove launched a range of reforms to education, including the expansion of free schools and academies and the English Baccalaureate.

Free schools role

When contacted by Tes about her new role, Ms Narozanski said she was unable to comment.

She has also worked at the Home Office - after leaving the DfE - as a policy adviser to Theresa May. She later went to the Greater London Authority when Boris Johnson was mayor, as head of the New Schools for London programme - a job which included identifying potential sites for new schools, including free schools, in the city.

Ms Narozanski, who is a boxer in her spare time and a member of the Team England squad, has also worked for the Vote Leave referendum campaign. Most recently, she has been an associate at the lobbying firm Public First. 

Downing Street said it would not comment on individual appointments.