Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills
Jenny Gilruth MSP was reappointed as the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills in May 2024.
Responsibilities
The Cabinet Secretary has responsibility for:
- additional support needs, and support for learning
- behaviour and measures to combat bullying
- childcare and wraparound care
- closing the attainment gap
- Curriculum for Excellence development
- education analytical services
- Education Maintenance Allowance
- Education Scotland (ES)
- education strategy and performance
- inclusive education
- learning disabilities, autism and neurodiversity (cross-government support)
- lifelong learning
- National Digital Academy
- National Improvement Framework
- positive destinations and school leavers' toolkit
- Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG)
- removing barriers to education and supporting digital inclusion
- school infrastructure and staffing
- school learning and support
- school standards, quality and improvement
- teaching profession
Supporting Ministers
- Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise
- Minister for Higher and Further Education; and Minister for Veterans
Biography
Brought up and educated in Fife, Jenny Gilruth is a graduate of Glasgow University, where she studied Politics and Sociology, and of Strathclyde University where she studied for her Postgraduate in Secondary Education (Modern Studies).
Prior to being elected in 2016, Jenny worked for over a decade in education, most recently as a Head of Department in a Fife secondary school.
Prior to that, Jenny worked at Education Scotland as NQ lead for Modern Studies, supporting the development of the new qualifications and also as a Modern Studies teacher.
Ms Gilruth was elected to represent the Mid Fife and Glenrothes Constituency at the 2016 election.
She was previously the Minister for Europe and International Development and Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development. She was appointed Minister for Transport in January 2022 and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills in March 2023.
- read more about Jenny Gilruth on the Scottish Parliament website.
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