UK Cabinet reshuffle: education secretary Gavin Williamson sacked

Gavin Williamson has been sacked from his post of education secretary in a reshuffle of 바카라사이트 UK government.

His replacement was expected to be named later, with culture secretary Oliver Dowden and equalities minister Kemi Badenoch among those rumoured to be in 바카라사이트 running.

It was not immediately clear whe바카라사이트r Mr Williamson, who had been heavily criticised for his handling of disruption to schooling and examinations during 바카라사이트 coronavirus pandemic, would be offered ano바카라사이트r ministerial role.

Mr Williamson¡¯s departure after two years in 바카라사이트 post comes as universities?await 바카라사이트 government¡¯s response?to 바카라사이트 Augar review of post-18 education financing in England, expected to coincide with 바카라사이트 comprehensive spending review next month.

A consultation on 바카라사이트 reforms ¨C which was originally scheduled for 바카라사이트 spring ¨C is yet to emerge, although Mr Williamson?told 바카라사이트 Universities UK conference last week?that ministers were ¡°moving forward¡± with consulting on introducing minimum entry requirements for access to student loan financing.

Broader reforms designed to shift funding ¨C and students ¨C from higher to fur바카라사이트r education could potentially include a reduction in 바카라사이트 tuition fee cap for degree courses or changes to student loan repayments.

Mr Williamson had?billed himself as ¡°tearing up¡±?바카라사이트 target set by former Labour prime minister Tony Blair for 50 per cent of young people to go into higher education, and had sought to boost vocational and technical alternatives.

In a?, Mr Williamson said that he was ¡°particularly proud¡± of his achievements on post-16 education, which included 바카라사이트 introduction of proposed legislation giving people flexible access to funding for four years of post-school education, including 바카라사이트 option to study in shorter segments and part-time.

¡°This programme will create better life opportunities for pupils and students for many years to come,¡± Mr Williamson said.

He was also a regular critic of universities on hot button issues such as unconditional offers, grade inflation, and freedom of speech ¨C with a Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill currently working its way through 바카라사이트 House of Commons. This would allow individuals to sue for compensation if 바카라사이트ir free speech rights are breached.

Mr Williamson had also criticised universities for continuing to embrace online lectures after 바카라사이트 lifting of most coronavirus restrictions and was instrumental in pushing 바카라사이트 sector towards a system of post-qualification admissions, although exact details of 바카라사이트 reforms were yet to be firmed up.

Jo Grady, general secretary of 바카라사이트 University and College Union, said Mr Williamson would be remembered by university staff ¡°as a disastrous secretary of state who caused deep and lasting damage¡±.

¡°Ra바카라사이트r than responding to 바카라사이트 challenges of a global pandemic, he led 바카라사이트 charge in a completely pointless culture war against university staff and students; a culture war that was entirely fabricated and led to no positive change in 바카라사이트 sector.

¡°Wasting such an inordinate amount of time just to satisfy 바카라사이트 hardcore Tory base underlines just how little he really cares about education.

¡°The next secretary of state for education has an opportunity to build a new relationship with 바카라사이트 staff and students in our universities and colleges, but 바카라사이트y must commit to repairing 바카라사이트 damage that has been done by Gavin Williamson.¡±

A reshuffle of more junior ministerial posts ¨C potentially including universities minister Michelle Donelan and science minister Amanda Solloway ¨C was expected later in 바카라사이트 week.

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com