Teachers put school funding first for new UK Education Secretary Lucy Powell
A weighted survey of 9,157 teachers in England found 72% want the new Education Secretary to prioritize funding, ahead of SEND and alternative provision at 13%.
Eleven percent of surveyed teachers were sad to see Bridget Phillipson leave, the highest figure for an Education Secretary since 2019
School funding should be Lucy Powell’s first priority as Education Secretary, according to 72% of teachers responding to a Teacher Tapp survey conducted as she entered Sanctuary Buildings.
The daily survey app asked teachers to select one issue that should top Powell’s agenda. SEND and alternative provision placed second with 13%, followed by teacher recruitment at 8%.
Assessment reform was chosen by 4% of respondents, while 2% selected none of the listed options and 1% chose social mobility.
The question was answered by 9,157 teachers on July 21, 2026. Teacher Tapp states that the findings were weighted to reflect teacher and school demographics.
Free-text responses pointed to the same pressure. Summing up what teachers wanted from Powell, one respondent wrote: “Show me the money!”
Teacher Tapp said it would deliver the full results to the Department for Education.
Phillipson departure draws stronger response than recent predecessors
The survey also placed Bridget Phillipson’s departure in the context of previous changes at the Department for Education.
Eleven percent of teachers said they were sad to see Phillipson leave, the highest figure recorded for a departing Education Secretary since 2019.
Among the seven former Education Secretaries included in Teacher Tapp’s comparison, Damian Hinds received the highest figure, with 18.7% of respondents sad to see him go after approximately 18 months in office.
Phillipson’s 11% was well ahead of the results for Gavin Williamson at 1%, Nadhim Zahawi at 5.4%, Michelle Donelan at 2%, Kit Malthouse at 0.8% and Gillian Keegan at 1.2%.
Her approximately 24-month tenure was also the second longest in the comparison, one month behind Williamson’s roughly 25 months.
Teacher Tapp has asked teachers about their reaction after each change of Education Secretary since 2018. The organization says more than 10,000 teachers now answer research questions through its app each day.
