Education Select Committee Explained

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 until 2024 was Robin Walker MP.^[1] Previous chairs include Robert Halfon MP (2017-2022), Neil Carmichael (2015–17) and Graham Stuart MP (2010–2015).

Membership

Following the 2024 United Kingdom general election, chairs and member of committees are yet to be appointed.

2019-2024 Parliament

The chair was elected on 27 January 2020, with the members of the committee being announced on 2 March 2020.^{[2] [3]}

Member		Party	Constituency
	Robert Halfon MP (Chair)	Conservative	Harlow
	Fleur Anderson MP	Labour	Putney
	Apsana Begum MP	Labour	Poplar and Limehouse
	Jonathan Gullis MP	Conservative	Stoke-on-Trent North
	Tom Hunt MP	Conservative	Ipswich
	Dr Caroline Johnson MP	Conservative	Sleaford and North Hykeham
	David Johnston MP	Conservative	Wantage
	Ian Mearns MP	Labour	Gateshead
	Lucy Powell MP	Labour Co-op	Manchester Central
	David Simmonds MP	Conservative	Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner
	Christian Wakeford MP	Conservative	Bury South

Changes 2019-2024

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
22 January 2024		Miriam Cates MP (Conservative)	Penistone and Stocksbridge	→		Vicky Ford MP (Conservative)	Chelmsford	Hansard
30 April 2024		Apsana Begum MP (Labour)	Poplar and Limehouse	→		Gen Kitchen MP (Labour)	Wellingborough	Hansard
	Kim Johnson MP (Labour)	Liverpool Riverside	Jess Phillips MP (Labour)		Birmingham Yardley

2017-2019 Parliament

The chair was elected on 12 July 2017, with the members of the committee being announced on 11 September 2017.^{[4] [5]}

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

2015-2017 Parliament

The chair was elected on 18 June 2015, with members being announced on 6 July 2015.^{[6] [7]}

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.^{[8] [9]}

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^[10]
Previously as Education and Skills Select Committee
	Barry Sheerman MP	Labour Co-op	Huddersfield	16 July 2001	Elected by the Select Committee

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.^[11] Elections are held at the beginning of a parliament or in the event of a vacancy.^[12]

16 November 2022^[13]
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

12 July 2017^[15]
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^[16]
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^[17]
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

• Select committee (United Kingdom)
• British House of Commons
• List of Committees of the United Kingdom Parliament

External links

• Education Committee
• Records for this Committee are held at the Parliamentary Archives

Notes and References

1. Web site: 2022-11-16 . Robin Walker elected as education committee chair . 2022-11-16 . schoolsweek.co.uk . en-GB.
2. Parliament of the United Kingdom . Speaker’s Statement: Select Committee Chairs . House of Commons . 27 January 2020 . 670 .
3. Parliament of the United Kingdom . Committees . House of Commons . 2 March 2020 . 672 .
4. Parliament of the United Kingdom . Speaker’s Statement: Select Committee Chairs . House of Commons . 12 July 2017 . 627 .
5. Parliament of the United Kingdom . Business without Debate . House of Commons . 11 September 2017 . 628 .
6. Parliament of the United Kingdom . Speaker’s Statement . House of Commons . 18 June 2015 . 597 .
7. Parliament of the United Kingdom . Committees . House of Commons . 6 July 2015 . 598 .
8. Parliament of the United Kingdom . Speaker’s Statement . House of Commons . 10 June 2010 . 511 .
9. Parliament of the United Kingdom . Committees . House of Commons . 12 July 2010 . 513 .
10. Web site: Barry Sheerman MP, Huddersfield - TheyWorkForYou . 2023-06-20 . TheyWorkForYou.
11. Web site: 2021-12-02 . Standing Orders of the House of Commons (Public Business) 2021 - UK Parliament . 2023-06-20 . UK Parliament . Standing Order No. 122B sub-paragraph (11)(d).
12. Web site: 2021-12-02 . Standing Orders of the House of Commons (Public Business) 2021 - UK Parliament . 2023-06-20 . UK Parliament . Standing Order No. 122C.
13. Parliament of the United Kingdom . Education Committee Chair Election - Result Sheet . House of Commons . 27 January 2020 . 670.
14. Parliament of the United Kingdom . Speaker’s Statement: Select Committee Chairs . House of Commons . 27 January 2020 . 670.
15. Web site: 2017 . ELECTION FOR CHAIRS OF SELECT COMMITTEES: RESULT . 2023-06-20 . UK Parliament.
16. Web site: 2015 . ELECTION FOR CHAIRS OF SELECT COMMITTEES: RESULTS . 2023-06-20 . UK Parliament.
17. Web site: 2010 . Committee-Chair-Results . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20200105064112/https://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons-committees/chair-elections/Committee-Chair-Results.pdf . 2020-01-05 . 2017-07-16 . UK Parliament.