Michelle Donelan has been promoted to minister of state, while Nick Gibb has been reappointed schools minister.
Although departmental briefs have yet to be confirmed Ms Donelan is tipped to replace Chris Skidmore, who served as universities and science minister across the Department for Education and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, but was sacked yesterday.
The science brief appears to have been split from the job, but as yet no minister has been appointed.
There have been reports that Ms Donelan could also take on ministerial responsibility for further education. The post of apprenticeships and skills minister has been vacant since Anne Milton MP resigned in July last year over Brexit.
Michelle Donelan
On Twitter Ms Donelan said, ‘Absolutely honoured and thrilled to be promoted by @Boris Johnson to Minister of State in @educationgov.uk. Very excited to continue to work with@GavinWilliamson!’
Ms Donellan was previously a junior minister responsible for children and families, covering the maternity leave of Kemi Badenoch MP.
Mr Gibb is likely to continue to oversee early years education, in addition to his role as schools standards minister.
In response to his reappointment Mr Gibb said, ‘Very pleased to have been reappointed as Schools Minister by the Prime Minister. Levelling up education standards across the country is essential to ensuring that every child, regardless of their background, has the opportunity to fulfil their potential.’