Ms Morris quit after announcing that she did not feel she had done well enough in the job. In a letter to Prime Minister Tony Blair explaining her decision she said, 'I have not felt I have been as effective as I should be, or as effective as you need me to be.'
But she added, 'I will look back with real pride at the role I have played in helping raise standards in literacy and numeracy in primary schools, in the reform programme we now have for secondary schools, and indeed at all levels of education; and perhaps above all the enhanced status of the teaching profession.'
Professional Association of Teachers general secretary Jean Gemmell expressed surprise and sadness at Ms Morris' resignation and said it was a 'typically honest, sincere and courageous decision'.
She added, 'Mr Clarke has many tough challenges ahead - in particular, restoring the examinations system, implementing the reform package on reducing workload and the use of staff support in school, and improving conditions of teachers, lecturers and support staff.'
NASUWT general secretary Eamonn O'Kane said, 'I hope Charles Clarke continues the dialogue on increasing the use of teaching assistants to support teachers and supplement their work. These are very important discussions and it is important to have them resolved in order to produce a workforce in our schools that works together harmoniously with the end result of an effective education service.'
Mr Clarke, seen as a 'political bruiser', was made parliamentary under-secretary of state for school standards in July 1998 and was appointed minister of state at the Home Office the following year. In 2001 he became minister without portfolio and Labour Party chair. He is married with two sons.