The Education Select Committee is a select committee of the House of Commons in the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The remit of the committee is to examine the expenditure, administration and policy of the Department for Education and any associated public bodies.

The chair of the committee is Robin Walker MP.[1] Previous chairs include Robert Halfon MP (2017-2022), Neil Carmichael (2015–17) and Graham Stuart MP (2010–2015).

Membership

As of 22 January 2024, the membership of the committee is as follows:[2][3][4][5][6]

Member Party Constituency
Robin Walker MP (Chair) Conservative Worcester
Caroline Ansell MP Conservative Eastbourne
Apsana Begum MP Labour Poplar and Limehouse
Vicky Ford MP Conservative Chelmsford
Flick Drummond MP Conservative Meon Valley
Anna Firth MP Conservative Southend West
Nick Fletcher MP Conservative Don Valley
Kim Johnson MP Labour Liverpool Riverside
Andrew Lewer MP Conservative Northampton South
Ian Mearns MP Labour Gateshead
Mohammad Yasin MP Labour Bedford

Changes since 2019

Occasionally, the House of Commons orders changes to be made in terms of membership of select committees, as proposed by the Committee of Selection. Such changes are shown below.

Date Outgoing Member
& Party 		Constituency → New Member
& Party 		Constituency Source
11 May 2020 Fleur Anderson MP (Labour) Putney → Dawn Butler MP (Labour) Brent Central Hansard
Lucy Powell MP (Labour and Co-op) Manchester Central Kim Johnson MP (Labour) Liverpool Riverside
21 September 2020 Dawn Butler MP (Labour) Brent Central → Fleur Anderson MP (Labour) Putney Hansard
13 July 2021 Fleur Anderson MP (Labour) Putney → Mohammad Yasin MP (Labour) [Bedford ]]
7 September 2021 Jonathan Gullis MP (Conservative) Stoke-on-Trent North → Nicola Richards MP (Conservative) West Bromwich East Hansard
19 October 2021 David Johnston MP (Conservative) Wantage → Miriam Cates MP (Conservative) Penistone and Stocksbridge Hansard
David Simmonds MP (Conservative) Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner Brendan Clarke-Smith MP (Conservative) Bassetlaw
15 March 2022 Brendan Clarke-Smith MP (Conservative) Bassetlaw → Caroline Ansell MP (Conservative) Eastbourne Hansard
Christian Wakeford MP (Labour) Bury South Anna Firth MP (Conservative) Southend West
29 March 2022 Nicola Richards MP (Conservative) West Bromwich East → Angela Richardson MP (Conservative) Guildford Hansard
25 October 2022 Dr Caroline Johnson MP (Conservative) Sleaford and North Hykeham → Andrew Lewer MP (Conservative) Northampton South Hansard
27 October 2022 Robert Halfon MP (Chair, Conservative) Harlow → Vacant Hansard
8 November 2022 Tom Hunt MP (Conservative) Ipswich → Flick Drummond MP (Conservative) Meon Valley Hansard
16 November 2022 Vacant → Robin Walker MP (Chair, Conservative) Worcester Hansard
29 November 2022 Angela Richardson MP (Conservative) Guildford → Nick Fletcher MP (Conservative) Don Valley Hansard
13 March 2023 Kate Osborne MP (Labour) Jarrow → Mohammad Yasin MP (Labour) Bedford Hansard

2017-2019 Parliament

The chair was elected on 12 July 2017, with the members of the committee being announced on 11 September 2017.[7][8]

Member Party Constituency
Robert Halfon MP (Chair) Conservative Harlow
Lucy Allan MP Conservative Telford
Michelle Donelan MP Conservative Chippenham
Marion Fellows MP Scottish National Party Motherwell and Wishaw
James Frith MP Labour Bury North
Emma Hardy MP Labour Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle
Trudy Harrison MP Conservative Copeland
Ian Mearns MP Labour Gateshead
Lucy Powell MP Labour Manchester Central
Thelma Walker MP Labour Colne Valley
William Wragg MP Conservative Hazel Grove

Changes 2017-2019

Date Outgoing Member
& Party 		Constituency → New Member
& Party 		Constituency Source
22 October 2018 Michelle Donelan MP (Conservative) Chippenham → Ben Bradley MP (Conservative) Mansfield Hansard

2015-2017 Parliament

The chair was elected on 18 June 2015, with members being announced on 6 July 2015.[9][10]

Member Party Constituency
Neil Carmichael MP (Chair) Conservative Stroud
Lucy Allan MP Conservative Telford
Ian Austin MP Labour Dudley North
Michelle Donelan MP Conservative Chippenham
Marion Fellows MP Scottish National Party Motherwell and Wishaw
Suella Fernandes MP Conservative Fareham
Lucy Frazer MP Conservative South East Cambridgeshire
Kate Hollern MP Labour Blackburn
Ian Mearns MP Labour Gateshead
Caroline Nokes MP Conservative Romsey and Southampton North
Kate Osamor MP Labour Edmonton

Changes 2015-2017

Date Outgoing Member
& Party 		Constituency → New Member
& Party 		Constituency Source
1 February 2016 Kate Hollern MP (Labour) Blackburn → Catherine McKinnell MP (Labour) Newcastle upon Tyne North Hansard
Kate Osamor MP (Labour) Edmonton Stephen Timms MP (Labour) East Ham
22 February 2016 Caroline Nokes MP (Conservative) Romsey and Southampton North → William Wragg MP (Conservative) Hazel Grove Hansard
31 October 2016 Stephen Timms MP (Labour) East Ham → Lilian Greenwood MP (Labour) Nottingham South Hansard

2010-2015 Parliament

The chair was elected on 10 June 2010, with members being announced on 12 July 2010.[11][12]

Member Party Constituency
Graham Stuart MP (Chair) Conservative Beverley and Holderness
Conor Burns MP Conservative Bournemouth West
Nic Dakin MP Labour Scunthorpe
Pat Glass MP Labour North West Durham
Damian Hinds MP Conservative East Hampshire
Liz Kendall MP Labour Leicester West
Charlotte Leslie MP Conservative Bristol North West
Ian Mearns MP Labour Gateshead
Tessa Munt MP Liberal Democrats Wells
Lisa Nandy MP Labour Wigan
Craig Whittaker MP Conservative Calder Valley

Changes 2010-2015

Date Outgoing Member
& Party 		Constituency → New Member
& Party 		Constituency Source
2 November 2010 Conor Burns MP (Conservative) Bournemouth West → Neil Carmichael MP (Conservative) Stroud Hansard
Liz Kendall MP (Labour) Leicester West Bill Esterson MP (Labour) Sefton Central
31 October 2016 Nic Dakin MP (Labour) Scunthorpe → Alex Cunningham MP (Labour) Stockton North Hansard
11 June 2012 Tessa Munt MP (Liberal Democrats) Wells → David Ward MP (Liberal Democrats) Bradford East Hansard
10 September 2012 Lisa Nandy MP (Labour) Wigan → Siobhain McDonagh MP (Labour) Mitcham and Morden Hansard
5 November 2012 Damian Hinds MP (Conservative) East Hampshire → Chris Skidmore MP (Conservative) Kingswood Hansard
4 November 2013 Charlotte Leslie MP (Conservative) Bristol North West → Dominic Raab MP (Conservative) Esher and Walton Hansard
18 March 2014 Chris Skidmore MP (Conservative) Kingswood → Caroline Nokes MP (Conservative) Romsey and Southampton North Hansard

Publications

2017 - 2019 Parliament

Date Title Government response
8 October 2018 Sixth Report of the Session 2017–19: The apprenticeships ladder of opportunity: quality not quantity Awaited
25 July 2018 Fifth Report of Session 2017–19: Forgotten children: alternative provision and the scandal of ever increasing exclusions Awaited
13 July 2018 Fourth Report of Session 2017–19: Appointment of the Chair of the Social Mobility Commission N/A
9 May 2018 Third Report of Session 2017–19: The Government’s Green Paper on mental health: failing a generation Government Response to the Committee’s Third Report of Session 2017–19
22 March 2018 Second Report of Session 2017–19: The future of the Social Mobility Commission Government Response to the Committee’s Second Report of Session 2017–19
22 December 2017 First Report of Session 2017–19: Fostering Government Response to the Committee’s First Report of Session 2017–19

2015-17 Parliament

Date Title Government response
2 May 2017 Eleventh Report of Session 2016–17: Primary assessment Government Response to the Committee’s Eleventh Report of Session 2016–17
1 May 2017 Tenth Report of Session 2016–17: Children and young people's mental health—the role of education Government Response to the Committee’s Tenth Report of Session 2016–17
25 April 2017 Ninth Report of Session 2016–17: Exiting the EU: challenges and opportunities for higher education Government Response to the Committee’s Ninth Report of Session 2016–17
31 March 2017 Eighth Report of Session 2016–17: Apprenticeships Government Response to the Committee’s Eighth Report of Session 2016–17
28 February 2017 Seventh Report of Session 2016–17: Multi-academy trusts Government Response to the Committee’s Seventh Report of Session 2016–17
24 February 2017 Sixth Report of Session 2016–17: Appointment of the Chair of the Office for Students N/A
21 February 2017 Fifth Report of Session 2016–17: Recruitment and retention of teachers Government Response to the Committee’s Fifth Report of Session 2016–17
13 February 2017 Fourth Report of Session 2016–17: Evidence check: Grammar schools Government Response to the Committee’s Fourth Report of Session 2016–17
13 July 2016 Third Report of Session 2016–17: Social work reform Government Response to the Committee’s Third Report of Session 2016–17
7 July 2016 Second Report of Session 2016–17: Appointment of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills Government Response to the Committee’s Second Report of Session 2016–17
5 July 2016 First Report of Session 2016–17: Careers education, information, advice and guidance Government Response to the Committee’s First Report of Session 2016–17
28 April 2016 Fourth Report of Session 2015–16: Mental health and well-being of looked-after children Government Response to the Committee’s Fourth Report of Session 2015–16
20 March 2016 Third Report of Session 2015–16: Appointment of the Chief Regulator of Ofqual N/A
24 January 2016 Second Report of Session 2015–16: Holocaust education Government Response to the Committee’s Second Report of Session 2015–16
20 January 2016 First Report of Session 2015–16: The role of Regional Schools Commissioners Government Response to the Committee’s First Report of Session 2015–16

Chair of the Education Select Committee

Chair Party Constituency First elected Method
Rt Hon Robert Halfon MP Conservative Harlow 12 July 2017 Elected by the House of Commons
Neil Carmichael MP Conservative Stroud 18 June 2015 Elected by the House of Commons
Graham Stuart MP Conservative Beverley and Holderness 9 June 2010 Elected by the House of Commons
Previously as Children, Schools and Families Select Committee
Barry Sheerman MP Labour Co-op Huddersfield 12 November 2007 Elected by the Select Committee[13]
Previously as Education and Skills Select Committee
Barry Sheerman MP Labour Co-op Huddersfield 16 July 2001 Elected by the Select Committee[13]

Election results

From June 2010 chairs of select committees have been directly elected by a secret ballot of the whole House of Commons using the alternative vote system. Candidates with the fewest votes are eliminated and their votes redistributed until one remaining candidate has more than half of valid votes.[14] Elections are held at the beginning of a parliament or in the event of a vacancy.[15]

16 November 2022[16]
Candidate 1st round 2nd round
Votes % Votes %
Robin Walker 217 48.1 228 53.3
Caroline Ansell 108 23.9 124 28.4
David Simmonds 70 15.5 84 19.3
Jonathan Gullis 56 12.4 Eliminated
Not redistributed 15 3.3
Valid votes 451 436
27 January 2020[17]
Candidate 1st round
Votes %
Robert Halfon Unopposed
12 July 2017[18]
Candidate 1st round 2nd round 3rd round 4th round 5th round
Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes %
Robert Halfon 136 23.8 141 25.1 152 27.7 185 35.7 261 55.1
Nick Boles 129 22.6 137 24.4 153 27.9 178 34.4 213 44.9
Dan Poulter 109 19.1 112 20.0 127 23.2 155 29.9 Eliminated
Tim Loughton 101 17.7 104 18.5 116 21.2 Eliminated
Stephen Metcalfe 63 11.0 67 11.9 Eliminated
Rehman Chishti 33 5.8 Eliminated
Not redistributed 10 1.8 23 4.0 53 9.3 97 17.0
Valid votes 571 561 548 518 474
17 June 2015[19]
Candidate 1st round 2nd round
Votes % Votes %
Neil Carmichael 224 37.5 294 53.8
Tim Loughton 191 32.0 252 46.2
Caroline Nokes 182 30.5 Eliminated
Not redistributed 51 8.5
Valid votes 597 546
9 June 2010[20]
Candidate 1st round 2nd round 3rd round
Votes % Votes % Votes %
Graham Stuart 192 36.6 210 42.2 244 52.5
Rob Wilson 159 30.3 183 36.7 221 47.5
Lee Scott 92 17.5 105 21.1 Eliminated
Andrew Turner 82 15.6 Eliminated
Not redistributed 27 5.1 60 11.4
Valid votes 525 498 465

See also

References

  1. ^ "Robin Walker elected as education committee chair". schoolsweek.co.uk. 16 November 2022. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  2. ^ "Education Committee - Membership - Committees - UK Parliament". UK Parliament. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  3. ^ "Committees Volume 723: debated on Tuesday 29 November 2022". committees.parliament.uk. UK Hansard. 29 November 2022. Retrieved 30 November 2022. That Angela Richardson be discharged from the Education Committee and Nick Fletcher be added.
  4. ^ "Committees Volume 722: debated on Tuesday 8 November 2022". hansard.parliament.uk. UK Hansard. 8 November 2022. Retrieved 2 December 2022. That Tom Hunt be discharged from the Education Committee and Mrs Flick Drummond be added.
  5. ^ "Business without Debate Volume 729: debated on Monday 13 March 2023". hansard.parliament.uk. UK Hansard. 13 March 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2023. That Kate Osborne be discharged from the Education Committee and Mohammad Yasin be added.—(Sir Bill Wiggin, on behalf of the Committee of Selection.)
  6. ^ "Business without Debate Volume 744: debated on Monday 22 January 2024". hansard.parliament.uk. UK Hansard. 22 January 2024. Retrieved 23 January 2024. That Miriam Cates be discharged from the Education Committee and Vicky Ford be added.
  7. ^ "Speaker's Statement: Select Committee Chairs". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Vol. 627. Parliament of the United Kingdom: House of Commons. 12 July 2017.
  8. ^ "Business without Debate". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Vol. 628. Parliament of the United Kingdom: House of Commons. 11 September 2017.
  9. ^ "Speaker's Statement". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Vol. 597. Parliament of the United Kingdom: House of Commons. 18 June 2015.
  10. ^ "Committees". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Vol. 598. Parliament of the United Kingdom: House of Commons. 6 July 2015.
  11. ^ "Speaker's Statement". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Vol. 511. Parliament of the United Kingdom: House of Commons. 10 June 2010.
  12. ^ "Committees". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Vol. 513. Parliament of the United Kingdom: House of Commons. 12 July 2010.
  13. ^ a b "Barry Sheerman MP, Huddersfield - TheyWorkForYou". TheyWorkForYou. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  14. ^ "Standing Orders of the House of Commons (Public Business) 2021 - UK Parliament". UK Parliament. 2 December 2021. Standing Order No. 122B sub-paragraph (11)(d). Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  15. ^ "Standing Orders of the House of Commons (Public Business) 2021 - UK Parliament". UK Parliament. 2 December 2021. Standing Order No. 122C. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  16. ^ "Education Committee Chair Election - Result Sheet" (PDF). Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Vol. 670. Parliament of the United Kingdom: House of Commons. 27 January 2020.
  17. ^ "Speaker's Statement: Select Committee Chairs". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Vol. 670. Parliament of the United Kingdom: House of Commons. 27 January 2020.
  18. ^ "ELECTION FOR CHAIRS OF SELECT COMMITTEES: RESULT" (PDF). UK Parliament. 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  19. ^ "ELECTION FOR CHAIRS OF SELECT COMMITTEES: RESULTS" (PDF). UK Parliament. 2015. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  20. ^ "Committee-Chair-Results" (PDF). UK Parliament. 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 January 2020. Retrieved 16 July 2017.

External links

Current parliamentary committees of the United Kingdom
Chairs of the Education Select Committee
Categories