Agnew Replaces Lord Nash as New Academies Minister
Following the departure of Lord Nash this week, Sir Theodore Agnew, the founder of the Inspiration Trust, has been announced as the new Minister for Academies. It was speculated that Agnew would be Lord Nash’s successor, however it has now been confirmed by the Prime Minister’s Office that he will take the coveted position.
According to Schools Week, a Downing Street spokesperson said: “The Queen has been pleased to approve Agnew’s appointment as an unpaid Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Education, on the departure from Government of Lord Nash.”.
Furthermore, the spokesperson confirmed that the Queen would also confer a life peerage for the new Minister.
The DfE says Agnew will be “stepping away” from “all relevant business interests” while he is serving as a Minister.
“He is in the process of agreeing arrangements with the officials to “ensure that processes are put in place to prevent any conflict of interest between his ministerial role and his charitable interests.”
After the announcement of Agnew’s new appointment, the Inspiration Trust has said that the founder and Chair will now stand down.
Trust spokesman James Goffin said: “Agnew has made a massive contribution to improving education in Norfolk and Suffolk.
“He has given his time and expertise to grow the Trust from a single school to a family of 14, which now includes some of the top performing schools in the region. We congratulate him on this appointment.”
Speaking to Schools Week, Justine Greening, the Education Secretary, said: “Agnew’s experience in government and education makes him ideally placed to help create a school system that gives every child the chance to fulfil their potential, regardless of their background.
“He’s already been doing this through his work at the Inspiration Trust, which has shown its capacity to transform lives.
“I’d also like to thank John Nash for the dedication and passion he has given to his role as Minister. John has overseen a transformation of standards across our schools during his tenure and I wish him the very best in his retirement.”