Next Gen News

The charity, which is headed by a former Gove adviser, was subsequently given a £500,000 grant. No other organisation was invited to bid for the work.

The message was addressed to Gove; his senior policy adviser Sam Freedman; Rachel Wolf, who heads the NSN; and Gove's special adviser Henry de Zoete.

A further leaked email reveals the blurred boundaries which existed between Gove's team and the New Schools Network.

He writes that: "There needs to be an announcement soon about indicative timetables for new schools and what is going to be achieved before august. Forcing the conference in july will force the department to focus on it."

She said: "He initially volunteered then we hired him as a freelancer paid by the half day. He did various projects - mostly publications, communications and strategy. He averaged about 10 days a month.