Nick Gibb is leaving his role as schools standards minister in the government’s reshuffle.
The Conservative MP, who has been a mainstay in government for most of the past decade, announced his departure in a tweet tonight and said he was sad to be going.
Earlier today, Gavin Williamson was removed from his role as education secretary, with vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi taking over at Sanctuary Buildings.
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Posting on Twitter tonight, Mr Gibb said: “Congratulations to Nadhim Zahawi, who will do a superb job in building on the reforms of the past 10 years. I am sad not to be continuing as schools minister. It has been a privilege to play a part in helping improve the life chances of the next generation.”
Congratulations to @nadhimzahawi who will do a superb job in building on the reforms of the last ten years. I am sad not to be continuing as Schools Minister. It has been a privilege to play a part in helping improve the life chances of the next generation.
- Nick Gibb (@NickGibbUK) September 15, 2021
Mr Gibb was first appointed as a minister in 2010 in the coalition government under then education secretary Michael Gove.
He was sacked from that post in 2012.
However, he returned in 2014 in the reshuffle, which saw Mr Gove depart, and he has remained in place ever since under four education secretaries: Nicky Morgan, Justine Greening, Damian Hinds and Mr Williamson.
Mr Gibb has been seen as central to key policy changes over the past 10 years of Conservative or Conservative-led governments.
He is synonymous with the promotion of the teaching of phonics and oversaw the government’s revamp of the national school curriculum.
This summer, Mr Gibb ruled out the use of teacher assessment to award GCSEs in the long term, as record-high results were recorded for a second year following the cancellation of exams.
