Leading Article: Education needs to have its own department

Two cheers for the first step announced by the new coalition government on taking charge of the country's education. It has restored education to the title of the government department, so that snide jokes about the DCSF being called the Department for Curtains and Soft Furnishings can be confined to the history books.

On a more serious note, it reflects the new Education Secretary Michael Gove's determination to ensure that education, rather than children's services, is at the heart of his mission.

Only two cheers, though, because higher and further education remain with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. While acknowledging that another civil service reorganisation could prove costly, it makes no sense to have two sectors of education separated from each other – with universities subservient to business. A return to the days when the Department of Education covered all forms of education would be welcomed.