Justine Greening replaces Nicky Morgan as education secretary

Nicky Morgan has been sacked as education secretary after two years in office and will be replaced by former secretary of state for international development Justine Greening, it has been announced.

Morgan, who led the children’s social care reform agenda championed by former PM David Cameron, said she was “disappointed” to be leaving the role.

Morgan replaced Michael Gove as education secretary in July 2014. She largely continued with Gove’s two main reform agendas: the academisation of schools, and wholesale changes to children’s social care and social work. She said supporting social workers was “a personal priority” for her time in office.

Disappointed not to be continuing as Education Secretary & Min for Women & Equalities – two wonderful roles it's been a privilege to hold

— Baroness Nicky Morgan (@NickyMorgan01) July 14, 2016

In January, she announced a raft of reforms to children’s social work including a pledge to introduce accreditation for all children’s social workers by 2020, a new social work regulator, an expansion of fast-track training schemes, and a promise to introduce “academy-style freedoms” for children’s services.

Legislation underpinning the reforms, the Children and Social Work Bill, is currently going through parliament.

The regulations attached to the bill reveal that the government plans for the new social work regulator to be controlled by ministers, and accountable to the education secretary.

As Morgan’s replacement, Greening will play a key role in determining the regulatory system underpinning social work in England.

This story will be updated with reshuffle developments.