Education Secretary

Bridget Phillipson was a pupil at St Robert of Newminster Catholic School and Sixth Form College.

'An inspiration' - head at MP's former school reacts cabinet role

Watch: Seven videos capturing life in Sunderland over the past week

Bridget Phillipson's life and career in Echo retro photos.

16 pictures charting Bridget Phillipson's rise to Government

Bridget Phillipson arrives at 10 Downing Street, London, following the landslide General Election victory for the Labour Party. Picture date: Friday July 5, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story POLITICS Election. Photo credit should read: Lucy North/PA Wire

Bridget Phillipson officially appointed Education Secretary

Shadow Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has unveiled Labour’s long-term plan to tackle persistent school absence and drive high and rising standards in education. Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

We will reset the broken relationship between government, schools and families

St Mary's is one of three council multi-storeys in Sunderland city centre where 'Free After Three' will not be available from January. Sunderland Echo image.

Still wondering about Free After Three parking

Schools across England will face major disruption today as teachers strike over pay (Photo: Getty Images)

Back to school - teachers strikes finally over

NEU members are set to go on strike for two days this week over an ongoing dispute over pay with the government. (Photo by Hesther Ng/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Teachers to walk out for 2 days this week

Ruth Perry was the headteacher at Caversham Primary School (Photo: Brighter Futures for Children)

Ofsted changes being considered after death of headteacher

Labour’s plan would deliver breakfast clubs and afterschool activities for every child to boost their development.

BRIDGET PHILLIPSON, MP: Government leaving families to struggle with steeply ris...

“We want every young person to achieve and thrive, and to leave education ready for work and ready for life."

BRIDGET PHILLIPSON: Education means opportunity and I want that for every child

Huge shake-up to student loan payments to hit millions of young people

We take a look at the current Covid-19 restrictions across the UK. Picture: PA.

The Covid-19 restrictions across the UK in 2022

Ministers to review Omicron data to decide if tighter measures will be needed in England (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Ministers to review Omicron data to decide if tighter measures will be needed in...

Bridget Phillipson MP.

Sunderland MP reacts as pressure mounts over 'Downing Street Christmas party'

Bridget Phillipson MP.

'Rising star' MP promoted to Shadow Education Secretary

A ‘rising star’ Sunderland MP has been made Shadow Education Secretary in Sir Keir Starmer’s reshuffle.

Ross Robertson

Josita Kavitha Thirumalai, who attends St Anthony’s Girls’ Catholic Academy and their mixed sixth form with St Aidan’s Catholic Academy was nominated for the 2021 Lord Glenamara Prize by her classmates and teachers.

Student awarded prize by Schools Minister for dedication to charitable work

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson speaking to MPs in the House of Commons in London on easing coronavirus restrictions in education settings. Picture date: Tuesday July 6, 2021.

School ‘bubbles’ to end to prevent further disruption to education

Children’s Commissioner for England, Dame Rachel de Souza, said that she supported Williamson’s plan to formally ban smartphones in schools (Photo: PATRICK HERTZOG/AFP via Getty Images)

‘Distracting and damaging’ mobile phones could be banned in schools from January

School mobile phone bans considered in behaviour consultation (Photo: TOLGA AKMEN/AFP via Getty Images)

School mobile phone bans considered in behaviour consultation

Gavin Williamson has branded the move to take down the Queen's portrait as absurd (WPA Pool/Getty)

Oxford students vote to remove Queen’s portrait as she is ‘colonial symbol’

Education Secretary Gavin Wiliamson has not ruled out longer school days for children (Photo: Getty Images)

School days could be made longer and holidays shortened to help children catch u...

A 'free speech champion' could be appointed at universities - but what does it mean? (Photo: Shutterstock)

A 'free speech champion' could be appointed at universities - but what does it m...

Primary and secondary schools across England are currently closed due to Covid-19, with the exception of children of key workers and vulnerable children (Photo: Oli Scarff/AFP/Getty Images)

Schools in England should get 2 weeks’ notice before reopening - the current est...

Teachers are ‘top priority’ in phase two for Covid jab - as expert advises staff...

Primary school teachers to self-test for Covid from next week - with plans for p...

GCSE, A Levels and SATs exams in England will be replaced by teacher assessments... Claire Schofield

Primary schools in these areas of England are not expected to reopen next week

Some primary and secondary schools in England won’t reopen next week - the lates...

Boris Johnson with Education Secretary Gavin Williamson.

JULIE ELLIOTT: Exam delay is not enough, our young people deserve better

With children being sent home from school due to cases of Coronavirus, what should parents do if their children are sent home because somebody else has tested positive? (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)

Do I have to self isolate if my child is sent home from school? Advice for paren...

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has announced that face coverings will be mandatory in schools where lockdown measures are stricter than other parts of England. Photo: PA.

U-turn on advice for pupils wearing face coverings

Gavin Williamson, the Education Secretary for England, has been in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons recently, following the disastrous way in which A level results were handled by the government this year (Photo: Peter Summers/Getty Images)

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has been called to resign over the A levels...

Pupils can be awarded their school or college estimated grade (Photo: Shutterstock)

How the U-turn on A level results has impacted university applications - and wha...

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson delivers a briefing from Downing Street on Thursday, July 2.

Education Secretary sets out plans for reopening of schools in September

Secretary of State for Education Gavin Williamson during a media briefing in Downing Street, London, on coronavirus (COVID-19). Photo: PA Video/PA Wire

What we learned from the latest Downing Street coronavirus briefing

MPs from across the North East have signed a joint letter to the Education Secretary. (From top left) Ian Lavery, Wansbeck, Emma Lewell-Buck, South Shields, Mike Hill Hartlepool and Kate Osborne, Jarrow.

North East MPs call on Government to halt plans for reopening of schools

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson during a media briefing in Downing Street, London, on coronavirus (COVID-19). Pictur eby Pippa Fowles/10 Downing Street/Crown Copyright/PA Wire

This is what we have learned today about when schools will reopen

Education Secretary Damian Hinds.

£24million fund launched to improve opportunities for young people in North Eas...

Sunderland teacher, Bryony Parrish, right, with Samantha Wright.

Sunderland teacher gets Downing Street invite to meet Prime Minister Theresa May

Improving schools in the North of England should be a priority for the new Education Secretary, it has been suggested.

Too many children in the North 'not getting the education they need'

Education Secretary Nicky Morgan who has announced that town halls will be offered cash incentives as part of an overhaul of social services for troubled children. Photo credit: Lauren Hurley/PA Wire

New £200million pot to improve children's services after failings at Sunderland...