Malthouse, MP for North West Hampshire and former Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, replaces James Cleverly who has been appointed Foreign Secretary.
He was a deputy mayor of London from 2008 under Boris Johnson before becoming MP for North West Hampshire in 2015.
Malthouse described his appointment on Twitter as "a daunting prospect and a singular honour".
According to the Department for Education’s website, junior ministers largely remain the same with the addition of former Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi as equalities minister with the role split between DfE and the Government Equalities Office and the removal of former children’s minister Will Quince as minister for school standards.
Kelly Tolhurst, MP for Rochester and Strood, has been named as education minister.
Brendan Clarke-Smith remains as children’s minister, Andrea Jenkyns remains as universities minister and Baroness Barran holds on to her position as schools system minister.
The Rt Hon Kit Malthouse MP @KitMalthouse as Secretary of State for Education @EducationGovUK #Reshuffle pic.twitter.com/HOUvzKCkm7
— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) September 6, 2022
However, changes may be made by Truss later today (7 September).
Responding to Malthouse’s appointment, Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Early Years Alliance, urged the new Education Secretary to prioritise the sector.
He said: “There’s no doubt he takes on the role at an extremely challenging time for the early years sector as we continue to battle through an early years funding crisis, severe recruitment and retention challenges and the impact of soaring costs. Now more than ever, it is vital that the new education secretary works with the sector to ensure that the sector can thrive, and not just survive: this means a focus on investing in the early years, not deregulating it.
“The early years is a vital part of the education sector and should be treated as such. We hope that Mr Malthouse will lead the way in valuing the sector and putting forward a long-term plan that is underpinned by adequate long-term funding, focuses on the needs of the child and recognises the early years workforce as the high-quality and hardworking educators they are.”
Purnima Tanuku, chief executive of National Day Nurseries Association, added: “The new Education Secretary’s priority must be to invest sufficiently in the early years sector and its workforce, because they make all the difference to children’s education and ultimately, life chances. We will share our First Five Years Count campaign with him, which focuses on raising awareness of this critical window of opportunity and encouraging more talent into the profession.
“All children deserve to have the best start in life. Evidence shows that high-quality early education reduces the attainment gap and saves further investment in children’s later school life.
“But the early years sector is facing huge challenges with rising costs. Any package of support for businesses must include childcare providers in both the private and voluntary sectors. Nurseries need to be made exempt from paying business rates and VAT, which would put them on a level playing field with local authority settings and schools. In order to remain sustainable and avoid more hikes in parental fees, Mr Malthouse should ensure government funding rates for two-, three- and four-year-olds are given a meaningful boost, then must keep pace with inflation.”
Malthouse is the government’s fourth Education Secretary to hold the position in a matter of months following a mass resignation of MPs in July which led to Zahawi being promoted to Chancellor of the Exchequer.
1 Michael Gove
— Kevin Courtney (@cyclingkev) September 7, 2022
2 Nicky Morgan
3 Justine Greening
4 Damian Hinds
5 Gavin Williamson
6 Nadhim Zahawi
7 Michelle Donelan
8 James Cleverly
9 Kit Malthouse
12 years - 9 SoS for Education
A revolving door
Is there a serious commitment to education?
Notably, no teachers amongst ‘em.
He was replaced by Michelle Donelan, who resigned just 48 hours later, meaning Cleverly was appointed to the role.
Donelan, who is MP for Chippenham, has been appointed as Culture Secretary, with Nigel Huddleston appearing to keep the portfolio for community and youth which he has held since February 2020.
Stuart Andrew, MP for Pudsey, Horsforth and Aireborough, remains youth justice minister after being appointed to the position in July.
