Home
News
Gemma Collins makes surprise visit to Department for Education and parents are all saying the same thing

Gemma Collins makes surprise visit to Department for Education and parents are all saying the same thing

The TOWIE star has appeared in a DfE video asking, “What are we doing to help the children?”

Instagram: @educationgovuk

Ruairidh Pritchard

Published: May 20, 2026 at 11:32 AM

Save

Gemma Collins has swapped Essex glam for Westminster corridors, after appearing in a surprise video from the Department for Education that has left the internet in meltdown.

The former The Only Way Is Essex star, 45, features in a short teaser clip posted on the DfE’s official social media accounts, where she’s seen striding through the building before asking: “Right. What are we doing to help the children?”

The unexpected crossover between reality TV and education policy has sparked everything from disbelief to applause, with many parents keen to know what it actually means for children in schools today.

What is Gemma Collins doing at the Department for Education?

In the 18-second video, Gemma arrives outside the Westminster building before walking through the department’s offices. At one point she flashes a peace sign in a lift, then heads down a corridor with her hands on her hips.

She looks directly at the camera and asks: “Right. What are we doing to help the children?”

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson then opens her office door and responds: “Come in, let’s have a chat.”

The clip is captioned: “Gemma Collins is in the building and she’s got questions. Coming soon.”

Want to see this content?

This page contains content provided by Instagram. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as Instagram may use cookies and other technologies. To view this content, choose 'Accept and continue' to allow Instagram and its required purposes.

Accept and continue

According to the Department for Education, Gemma was not paid for the meeting or for appearing in the promotional content.

What was discussed in the meeting?

While the teaser itself keeps details under wraps, the DfE confirmed that the meeting focused on education reforms aimed at supporting children who leave school with minimal qualifications.

Gemma has previously spoken about leaving school with basic qualifications herself. The discussion with Bridget Phillipson centred on how young people in similar situations can be better supported, including conversations around V-levels and occupational pathways.

More content from the meeting is expected to be shared across the DfE’s social media channels in the coming days. Gemma will also post additional behind-the-scenes material on her own platforms.

For parents, particularly those with teens who may not be heading down a traditional academic route, the mention of vocational pathways is likely to be of interest. These routes are designed to offer practical, skills-based options alongside more academic qualifications.

Backlash from SEND parents

Alongside the memes and light-hearted reactions, there has also been strong criticism from some parents, particularly within the SEND community.

One Instagram user, @asd_with_a_g_and_t, wrote in a widely shared post:

“The DFE appear to once again be making a mockery of SEND families and now have shared a video of @gemmacollins meeting them to discuss our children’s needs.

This isn’t funny. This is children’s lives you are playing with and making lighthearted videos with celebs is not a great move is it!?”

Want to see this content?

Accept and continue

For many parents of children with special educational needs and disabilities, the concern is less about celebrity involvement and more about whether meaningful change will follow.

The internet reacts

As you might expect, social media more broadly had plenty to say.

One person wrote: “The good and decent officials who were made to tweet this nonsense deserve better. I’m sorry to see the department brought so low.”

Another commented: “I say this sincerely: God help us.”

A third quipped: “What’s next? Joey Essex visits the Ministry of Defence?”

But not everyone was critical. One supporter posted: “About time we see Gemma back on our screens lol. Big up the Essex Queen.”

Former health secretary Wes Streeting also retweeted the clip, writing: “When the GC met BP,” followed by a fire emoji.

Why this matters to parents

Beyond the viral moment, the key focus of the meeting appears to be on young people who risk falling through the cracks of the education system.

For many mums, especially those navigating EHCP applications, GCSE options, college applications or conversations about apprenticeships, the spotlight on vocational routes and alternative qualifications will feel timely.

While it remains to be seen what concrete outcomes will come from the collaboration, the DfE has indicated that further information will be shared soon.

In the meantime, Gemma’s headline-making question, “What are we doing to help the children?”, has certainly got parents talking, for very different reasons.

We’ll be watching closely to see what comes next and, most importantly, what it could mean for families across the UK.

Read more:

Authors

Ruairidh PritchardDigital Growth Lead

Ruairidh is the Digital Lead on MadeForMums. He works with a team of fantastically talented content creators and subject-matter experts on MadeForMums.