Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills

The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills (Scottish Gaelic: Rùnaire a' Chaibineit airson Foghlam agus Sgilean), commonly referred to as the Education Secretary (Scottish Gaelic: Rùnaire an Fhoghlaim), is a position in the Scottish Government Cabinet responsible for all levels of education in Scotland. The incumbent is Jenny Gilruth, who assumed office on 29 March 2023 and was reappointed on 8 May 2024.

Scotland
Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills
Scottish Gaelic: Rùnaire a’ Chaibineit airson Foghlam agus Sgilean
Incumbent
Jenny Gilruth
since 29 March 2023
Style
  • Cabinet Secretary
    (within parliament)
  • Education Secretary
    (informal)
  • Scottish Education Secretary
    (outwith Scotland)
Member of
Reports to
SeatEdinburgh
AppointerFirst Minister
(following approval from Scottish Parliament)
Inaugural holderSam Galbraith
Minister for Education and Children
Formation19 May 1999
Deputy
Salary£126,452 per annum (2024)[1]
(including £72,196 MSP salary)
Websitewww.gov.scot

The Cabinet Secretary is supported by the Minister for Higher and Further Education, Graeme Dey, and the Minister for Children, Young People and Keeping the Promise, Natalie Don.[2]

History

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The position was created in 1999 as the Minister for Children and Education; it was renamed as the Minister for Education, Europe and External Affairs in 2000 and given more responsibilities; those were taken away from the post in 2001 and it was renamed again as the Minister for Education and Young People. The current position of Cabinet Secretary was created following the 2007 election.

Overview

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Responsibilities

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The responsibilities of the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills include:[2]

  • childcare and wraparound care
  • school standards, quality and improvement
  • school infrastructure and staffing
  • closing the attainment gap
  • Curriculum for Excellence development
  • National Improvement Framework
  • teaching profession
  • removing barriers to education and supporting digital inclusion
  • Education Maintenance Allowance
  • behaviour and measures to combat bullying
  • Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG)
  • Education Scotland (ES)
  • school learning and support
  • education analytical services
  • education strategy and performance
  • additional support needs, and support for learning
  • inclusive education
  • lifelong learning
  • cross-government support for learning disabilities, autism and neurodiversity
  • National Digital Academy
  • positive destinations and school leavers' toolkit


Public bodies

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The following public bodies report to the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills:

List of office holders

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Minister for Children and Education

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Name Portrait Entered Office Left Office Party First Minister
Sam Galbraith 19 May 1999 28 November 2001 Labour Party Donald Dewar

Minister for Education, Europe and External Affairs

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Jack McConnell   28 November 2001 22 November 2002 Labour Party Henry McLeish

Minister for Education and Young People

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Cathy Jamieson   22 November 2002 20 May 2003 Labour Party Jack McConnell
Peter Peacock   20 May 2003 14 November 2006
Hugh Henry   14 November 2006 17 May 2007

Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning

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Fiona Hyslop   17 May 2007 1 December 2009 Scottish National Party Alex Salmond
Michael Russell   1 December 2009 21 November 2014
Angela Constance   21 November 2014 18 May 2016 Nicola Sturgeon

Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills

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John Swinney   18 May 2016 20 May 2021 Scottish National Party Nicola Sturgeon
Shirley-Anne Somerville   20 May 2021 29 March 2023
Jenny Gilruth   29 March 2023 Incumbent Humza Yousaf
John Swinney

References

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  1. ^ "MSP salaries". parliament.scot. The Scottish Parliament. 13 May 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills - gov.scot". gov.scot. Retrieved 13 May 2024.