On the 8th July 2024, Catherine was appointed as a Minister of State in the Department for Education. Catherine is the Minister for School Standards and her responsibilities include:
- school improvement, intervention and inspection (including links with Ofsted)
- regional school improvement teams
- initial teacher training and incentives
- teacher retention including the early career framework and teacher training entitlement
- school leadership
- teacher pay and pensions
- school support staff
- core school funding
- qualifications (including links with Ofqual)
- curriculum and assessment, including the curriculum and assessment review and creative education
- special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and high needs
- alternative provision
- school governance
- admissions
- faith schools
- school uniform
- school transport
- access to sport, arts and music in education, working with other departments
- pupil premium.