Fresh off the Conservatives' spectacular, odds-defying outright victory at the election, and confirmed as retaining her post of education secretary, Nicky Morgan was calm and confident when she spoke of the government's agenda for schools. Affirming the government's pledge to open 500 free schools between now and 2020 - taking the total to more than 750 and providing an additional 270,000 pupil places - Morgan declared: "Free schools are at the heart of the government's commitment to deliver real social justice by ensuring all pupils have access to a world-class education. This is at the core of our commitment to govern as one nation - creating a country where everyone, regardless of their background, can achieve their high aspirations." Morgan can now push ahead with creating more free schools and other education changes, such as punishing hundreds of "coasting" schools that have poor exam results. The fee-paying Surbiton High School and Oxford University alumnus also does not have too much to worry about in the next round of spending cuts. Her department has been ordered to find £450m, but these will be made in further and higher education budgets and will largely come from expected underspends.
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