Backlash over Department for Education videos with Gemma Collins

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan has defended the use of videos featuring reality television personality Gemma Collins to promote post-16 education options. The campaign, aimed at encouraging young people to consider further education, apprenticeships, or technical courses after secondary school, has drawn criticism. The videos, which star Ms. Collins, known for her role in “The Only Way Is Essex,” are part of a broader government initiative to raise awareness of the diverse pathways available to students. Ms. Keegan stated that the department aimed to reach a wide audience, particularly young people, and that Ms. Collins’s public profile could help achieve this. She emphasized that the content of the videos focuses on providing information about vocational training, T-levels, and other alternative routes to university. Critics, however, have questioned the suitability of a reality TV star for educational messaging and suggested that the funds could have been better allocated. Despite the controversy, the Department for Education maintains that the campaign is designed to be engaging and informative for its target demographic.