# 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.
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.

## 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:
* 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 | Name | 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 | Labour Party | Jack McConnell |
| | Hugh Henry | 14 November 2006 | 17 May 2007 | Labour Party | Jack McConnell |
| 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 | Scottish National Party | Alex Salmond |
| | Angela Constance | 21 November 2014 | 18 May 2016 | Scottish National Party | 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 | Scottish National Party | Nicola Sturgeon |
| | Jenny Gilruth | 29 March 2023 | Incumbent | Scottish National Party | Humza Yousaf John Swinney |