Morgan, who took over the role in July 2014, was one of the first appointments to Prime Minister David Cameron’s new Cabinet, along with former Education Secretary Michael Gove who has been appointed Justice Secretary.
Among Morgan’s priorities will be to oversee the further expansion of the free schools and academies programmes, with the Conservative manifesto pledging to create at least 500 new free schools over the next five years.
She will also play a key role in delivering the Conservatives’ pre-election pledge to double to 30 hours a week the entitlement to free childcare for all working parents by 2017.
The Department for Education is also set to bring in plans for children who fail their primary school Sats exams to retake them at secondary school, as well as tighter regulation of the school curriculum.
After the announcement was made Morgan, who has also retained her brief as minister for women and equalities, took to Twitter to say she was “delighted” with her reappointment, adding: “Lots more to do in both roles.”
At the election, Morgan, who was defending a narrow majority in her Loughborough constituency, increased her share of the vote from 41 to 50 per cent.
Other ministers to be appointed in the first wave of announcements include the reappointments of Iain Duncan Smith as Work and Pensions Secretary, Theresa May as Home Secretary, Jeremy Hunt as Health Secretary and George Osborne as Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Former universities, science and cities minister Greg Clark takes over from Eric Pickles as Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.
Meanwhile, former Treasury minister Priti Patel has been promoted to the Cabinet as employment minister, while Sajid Javid has been named secretary of state for Business, Innovation of Skills, the department that will oversee the Conservatives’ manifesto pledge to create three million new apprenticeship opportunities.
Further junior ministerial appointments are expected later today.
Labour has announced that Tristram Hunt will remain as shadow Education Secretary until a new leader of the party is elected later this year.
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