Across the education and early learning portfolio, Julian focuses on support for families, academic excellence and choice. He highlights the importance of foundational knowledge, cultural literacy, and backing teachers as our greatest asset for driving excellence in education.

He strongly believes that school reforms must be based on measurable data and meaningful outcomes for parents, and that quality teaching and a focus on literacy and numeracy are essential to raising standards.

In childcare, he believes that safety must be paramount; a one-size-fits-all approach is wrong in principle, and the needs of children should be at the centre of childcare policy.

In the higher education and research sector, he believes in a competitive, dynamic sector and that public universities must not only deliver world-class education and research but also operate in the national interest.

Across the board, he considers education should be transformative, help build our economy and create social cohesion, and support robust and trustworthy institutions of government in the best traditions of Western liberal democracy.