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Lucy Powell named Education Secretary in ministerial changes

Rochdale MP Paul Waugh has been appointed a minister at the Department for Education, and Minister for Early Education Olivia Bailey has left the government.

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Hubba TrainingOfficial sources

Published 23 July 20262 min read

At a glance

Lucy Powell was appointed Education Secretary on 20 July, as new Prime Minister Andy Burnham formed his government.
Rochdale MP Paul Waugh was appointed a minister at the Department for Education on 22 July.
Olivia Bailey, Minister for Early Education since 7 September 2025, has left the government.

Lucy Powell was appointed Education Secretary on 20 July, as new Prime Minister Andy Burnham formed his government, GOV.UK records show.

She now leads the Department for Education (DfE), which is responsible for early years and childcare in England.

Ms Powell is the MP for Manchester Central. She was Leader of the House of Commons from July 2024 to September 2025.

She replaces Bridget Phillipson, who had been Education Secretary since 5 July 2024. Ms Phillipson remains Minister for Women and Equalities.

A new minister at the DfE

Paul Waugh, the MP for Rochdale, was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the DfE on 22 July.

Olivia Bailey, who had been Minister for Early Education since 7 September 2025, has left the government. GOV.UK records her time in the role as ending on 22 July.

The government's list of appointments does not say which areas Mr Waugh will cover. The National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) described him as Ms Bailey's successor, but said that as of 23 July he had not been given a title or brief.

Other DfE ministers, including Georgia Gould and Josh MacAlister, will remain in post.

Sector reaction

NDNA said it had written to Ms Powell asking for an urgent meeting. It wants to discuss the challenges facing private, voluntary and independent nurseries.

“We welcome Lucy Powell to the role of Education Secretary at a crucial time for children, families and early education providers.”

Tim McLachlan, Chief Executive of National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA)

NDNA noted that Ms Powell was shadow minister for early years in 2013. She has also chaired the all-party parliamentary group on maintained nursery schools.

For your setting

What this means for your setting

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The Education Secretary is responsible for the DfE's work on early years and childcare, so you may want to note who now holds the post.
NDNA said on 23 July that Mr Waugh had not yet been given a title or brief, so you may want to look out for news of which minister will lead on early years and childcare.
NDNA has asked to meet the new Education Secretary, so if you are a member you may want to share your concerns with it.

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Does this apply in Scotland? The Department for Education's early years and childcare responsibilities cover England only.

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Sources

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Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Licence.

At a glance

Lucy Powell was appointed Education Secretary on 20 July, as new Prime Minister Andy Burnham formed his government.
Rochdale MP Paul Waugh was appointed a minister at the Department for Education on 22 July.
Olivia Bailey, Minister for Early Education since 7 September 2025, has left the government.