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
Education Scotland Scottish Government Scottish Cabinet
Style	Cabinet Secretary (within parliament) Education Secretary (informal) Scottish Education Secretary (outwith Scotland)
Member of	Scottish Parliament Scottish Cabinet
Reports to	Scottish Parliament First Minister
Seat	Edinburgh
Appointer	First Minister (following approval from Scottish Parliament)
Inaugural holder	Sam Galbraith Minister for Education and Children
Formation	19 May 1999
Deputy	Minister for Children, Young People and the Promise Minister for Higher and Further Education
Salary	£126,452 per annum (2024)[1] (including £72,196 MSP salary)
Website	www.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

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

Responsibilities

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

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

• Care Inspectorate
• Children's Hearings Scotland
• Education Scotland
• Scottish Children's Reporter Administration
• Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council
• Scottish Qualifications Authority
• Scottish Social Services Council
• Student Awards Agency for Scotland

List of office holders

Minister for Children and Education
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
	Jack McConnell		28 November 2001	22 November 2002	Labour Party	Henry McLeish
Minister for Education and Young People
	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
	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
	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