The MP for Chichester succeeds Kit Malthouse, who left the role today (Tuesday), just over a month after he was appointed.
Keegan, who was named as Education Secretary as part of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s first cabinet, previously held the position of under-secretary of state for apprenticeships and skills between February 2020 to September 21.
She has been under-secretary of state at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office since September and was previously minister for care at the Department of Health and Social Care between September 2021 and September 2022 with her portfolio covering young people's mental health.
Keegan has voted for cuts to local government funding and against extending powers afforded to local authorities.
She has also voted for a stricter asylum system and a stronger enforcement of immigration rules.
Keegan supports increasing benefits in line with prices.
Following her appointment, Keegan wrote on Twitter: "I’m deeply honoured to have been appointed as Secretary of State for Education by the Prime Minister @RishiSunak. Education transforms lives - I know that talent is spread equally around the country and I will work tirelessly to ensure opportunity is also."
I am delighted that my friend and colleague @RishiSunak is the new leader of the @Conservatives and soon to be confirmed Prime Minister. 👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/l3vMrdxrGT
— Gillian Keegan (@GillianKeegan) October 24, 2022
She becomes the fifth Education Secretary in just four months, including Michelle Donelan who held the position for less than 72 hours, and the 10th in nine years.
Gillian Keegan MP @GillianKeegan has been appointed Secretary of State for Education @EducationGovUK. #Reshuffle pic.twitter.com/To4FNPxuEK
— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) October 25, 2022
Education Secretaries:
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Gillian Keegan Oct 22 - Present
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Kit Malthouse Sept 22– Oct 22
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James Cleverly July 22–Sept 22
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Michelle Donelan July 22–July 22
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Nadhim Zahawi Sept 21–July 22
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Gavin Williamson July 19–Sept 21
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Damien Hinds Jan 18–July 19
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Justine Greening July 16–Jan 18
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Nicky Morgan July 14–July 16
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Michael Gove May 10–July 14
Following Keegan's appointment, the children's commissioner for England, Dame Rachael de Souza, tweeted: "Congratulations @GillianKeegan on your appointment as our new Education Secretary of State. Look forward to working with you to do our very best for the children of our country, so they can thrive and create the futures that they dream of."
Mark Russell, chief executive of the Children's Society, added: "Congratulations @GillianKeegan on your appointment as the next Education Secretary. Our team @childrensociety are deeply committed to transforming young people’s lives, and we look forward to meeting you."
Early years leaders have urged the Education Secretary to "acknowledge the absolutely pivotal role that the early years sector plays in supporting long-term learning and development, alongside our primary, secondary, further and higher education colleagues".
Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Early Years Alliance, said: "With six different education secretaries in post over the last 14 months, it’s clear that the education sector is in desperate need of some stability and continuity, and that establishing a clear sense of direction for education policy in this country must be a top priority for Ms Keegan in her new position.
"We look forward to working closely with Ms Keegan to ensure that early education and care is treated with the respect it deserves and sits at the heart of her department’s work going forward."
The “revolving door” of appointments to the position has sparked concern among the sector over the progress of three major reviews published earlier this year – The Independent Review of Children’s Social Care, the SEND and AP green paper and the schools white paper.
