Justine Greening becomes first Education Secretary with comprehensive school background

Ms Greening, who was educated at a comprehensive school in Rotherham, was previously Secretary of State for International Development

Justine Greening arrives to meet Prime Minister Theresa May to be appointed Secretary of State for Education at Downing Street (Getty)

Justine Greening has been appointed as Secretary of State for Education and Minister for Women and Equalities, the first education minister to have attended a comprehensive secondary school.

Ms Greening replaces Nicky Morgan as part of a major cabinet reshuffle, and moves to the role from the Department for International Development, where she has been secretary of state for nearly four years.

She was tipped to be a likely candidate for Education Secretary after the new Prime Minister Theresa May said she was keen to assign more women to top cabinet positions.

The MP for Putney, Roehampton and Southfields is the first education secretary to have attended a state secondary school, having been educated at Oakwood Comprehensive School in Rotherham.

She is also believed to be the first openly LGBT equalities minister.

Last month, she announced she was in a same-sex relationship during Pride, making her the first openly gay female Cabinet minister.

Leaving Downing Street after the announcement, Ms Greening reportedly told onlookers it was her “perfect job”.

As well as being a Remain supporter during last month’s EU referendum, the MP’s past campaigns include working with police to reduce crime and a drive to reduce aircraft noise at Heathrow.

She has previously spoken out against gender inequality and supported projects with UNICEF, rallying against FGM and child marriage.

Ms Morgan took to social media to congratulate Ms Greening on her new role, tweeting: “Congrats to my successor Justine Greening – she’s committed to excellence in education, equalities and did great work for women at DIFID”.