Committees

Nominations open for the Education Committee Chair

5 September 2024

MPs have begun the process of electing a Education Committee in the new Parliament.

The Speaker announced the timetable for the elections on July 30. The period of nominations will run until 4pm on Monday 9 September, with the ballot scheduled for Wednesday 11 September.

The new Chair will be elected from the Labour party under the allocation of committee chairs to political parties which was agreed by the House on 30 July 2024.  

Since 2010, most committee chairs have been elected by the whole House, by a system of alternative vote and by secret ballot. To be valid, nominations must contain a signed statement made by the candidate declaring their willingness to stand.

It must be accompanied by the signatures of 15 MPs elected to the Commons as members of the same political party as the candidate (or 10 per cent of the MPs elected to the House as members of that party, whichever is the lower). More than 15 signatures can be collected but only the first 15 valid signatures are printed. Members may only nominate one candidate per select committee.

Nominations may be accompanied by the signatures of up to five MPs elected to the House as members of any party other than to which the chair is allocated or of no party. Similarly, only five such signatures are printed.

Candidates must declare any relevant interests with their nomination. Valid nominations received each day are published with the next day's Order Paper and will be listed below.

Nominations

Candidate: Mrs Sharon Hodgson

Supporters (own party): Dame Diana Johnson, Andrew Gwynne, Mary Glindon, Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck, Melanie Onn, Emily Thornberry, Jo Platt, Josh Simons, Matthew Patrick, Valerie Vaz, Pamela Nash, Dame Siobhain McDonagh, David Smith, Sarah Champion, Uma Kumaran

Supporters (other parties or no party): Claire Hanna, Liz Saville Roberts, Jim Shannon

Relevant interests declared: None

Supporting statement:

I am asking for your support in electing me as Chair of the Education Select Committee.

Standing up for children and families and advocating for an ambitious, thriving, and fair education system has been a constant theme throughout my parliamentary career. I know how transformational effective education can be in reducing inequality, tackling child poverty, and opening up the door to opportunity, because of the significant role it played in improving my life.

As Chair of the Education Select Committee, I would focus on holding the Government to account on issues that make a significant impact in our communities, such as: teacher recruitment and retention; childcare; the inequality gap; skills and the curriculum; school food; accountability measures; higher and further education; and SEND reform.

Holding the Children and Families Ministerial brief for over four years, I have significant and relevant leadership experience. During the coalition years, I relentlessly campaigned to get Universal Free School Meals into The School Food Plan (2013), which was instrumental in establishing Universal Infant Free School Meals. More recently, I have led successful campaigns to improve access to arts education and quality food in both primary and secondary schools. Should I be elected to this role, I will always fight to ensure children get the best possible start in life.

I have the relevant knowledge to effectively scrutinise Government policy. In 2008, I passed my Private Member’s Bill: The Special Educational Needs (Information) Act, which made it mandatory for the Department for Education to publish an annual report about the progress and attainment of children with Special Educational Needs in England. As Shadow Minster for Children and Families, I also undertook the Labour Party review into SEND provision to scrutinise the impact of the Children and Families Act.

I will always be fair, a quality I have shown throughout my 19 years in Parliament, chairing APPGs and Select Committees, including the Commons’ Finance Committee. I have a wealth of experience working with stakeholders across the education sector, using their expert opinions to guide and inform campaigns and meetings that I lead. I will draw on this experience to ensure the Committee’s scrutiny is always evidence-based, impartial and represents the interests and concerns of the entire country.

I am incredibly passionate about education. Prior to the general election, I was Chair of the APPGs on School Food, Art, Craft and Design in Education, and Dyslexia and Specific Learning Difficulties, as well as a member of the 1001 days and Craft APPGs. Following the introduction of the E-Bacc in 2010, I set up the Art, Craft and Design in Education APPG, which released a report last year into the changes that the sector is advocating for, to ensure access to, as well as the longevity and success of, creative education.

We know that education is the biggest equaliser in society, and I believe I have the skills and experience to fight for those learning in our country. 

Candidate: Dr Marie Tidball

Supporters (own party): Lizzi Collinge, Jen Craft, Gill Furniss, Catherine Fookes, Mike Tapp, Jon Pearce, Paul Davies, Jack Abbott, Chris Bloore, Natalie Fleet, Shaun Davies, Dr Simon Opher, Steve Race, Anna Dixon, Mr Luke Charters

Supporters (other parties or no party): Adam Dance, Steve Darling

Relevant interests declared: None

Supporting statement:

I am standing for Chair of the Education Select Committee because I know the difference good education makes to people’s life chances, because I’ve lived it. I have the professional skills, lived experience and track record of working with a wide variety of stakeholders across the education sector and beyond.

Lived Experience: Whilst I’m a newly elected MP, I’ve spent over a decade breaking down barriers to opportunity in education in my professional life – as an academic specialising in inclusive education, as a Higher Education researcher, local government Cabinet member and nationally renowned disability expert. Earlier this year, I published my book Disabling Criminal Justice, highlighting the barriers disabled people face within the justice system and the need for joined-up public services., including education and social care.

Professional Expertise: I’ve worked with business, local government, charities, and researchers to increase access to Higher Education, design inclusive curriculums, strengthen the Early Years sector and develop innovation in public service delivery.

Inclusive Leadership: I’ve chaired high profile and challenging local government committees, alongside colleagues across the party divide, worked closely with and have also gathered evidence from academic researchers and external stakeholders, to produce reports for select committees. I’ve chaired scrutiny committees, working across party lines to hold the administration in charge to account. I thrive when working on a cross-party basis to fix problems, engender consensus and deliver change.

My priorities

SEND provision: I support promoting a joined-up approach between health and education to better address the needs of pupils and families who most need support. We need a pathways review akin to what Lord Bradley did in 2009 on the criminal justice system for offenders with mental health and learning disabilities. We need focused analyses on how we remove barriers for SEND Children and join up services across education pathways, health and children’s social care. Improving family advocacy around this is key - going beyond SENDIASS to enable better access to services. Often SEND children have complex needs and need a whole-child approach for best provision and outcomes.

Skills for growth: I back mapping education pathways into skilled jobs for young people and looking at how we can better link-up education with local assets, such as outside spaces, leisure, arts, sports and heritage to broaden curriculum and opportunities for these young people.

Closing the deprivation attainment gap: We need to gather evidence on what works for a national strategy on deprivation attainment. This must be driven by an overarching national approach that addresses the regional inequalities but crucially, includes place-based solutions.

An inclusive curriculum: Fostering a culture of inclusivity all throughout the education journey and bringing up access to arts, heritage and outdoor spaces to enable young people to develop creativity and find their voice.

Children’s social care: Bring together agencies and councils to break down barriers and find solutions to improve social care provision for young people.

I do hope you will consider supporting me. Please reach out to me with any questions you might have marie.tidball.mp@parliament.uk 

Candidate: Helen Hayes

Supporters (own party): Jim Dickson, Kim Leadbeater, Dawn Butler, Fleur Anderson, Florence Eshalomi, Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, Luke Murphy, Tom Rutland, Jess Asato, Rachael Maskell, Claire Hazelgrove, Andy Slaughter, Alistair Strathern, Marsha De Cordova, Ms Polly Billington

Supporters (other parties or no party): Layla Moran, Jerome Mayhew, Kevin Hollinrake

Relevant interests declared: None.

Supporting statement:

I am seeking your support to be elected Chair of the Education Select Committee.

I bring to this role extensive experience working on select committees and as a Shadow Education Minister. I will ensure that the committee delivers robust scrutiny and effective, evidence-based recommendations. My up-to-date education experience means that I know the challenges facing the Department for Education and our constituents.

As Chair of the Education Select Committee, I would work with the committee on an ambitious programme of inquiries which reflect the priorities of constituencies right across the country including:

  • Tackling the attainment gap in every part of the country  
  • Reforming Special Educational Needs and Disabilities support
  • Reviewing and reforming the school curriculum
  • Ensuring childcare & early years education delivers for children and parents
  • A sustainable future for our universities and students
  • Tackling the RAAC crisis in school buildings
  • The work of the government’s Child Poverty Task Force
  • A fit for purpose skills system for a modern economy
  • Children’s social care & improving support and outcomes for care experienced people

I have seven years of select committee experience serving on two different committees. In a previous Parliament, I co-chaired a joint enquiry of the HCLG and Work & Pensions Select Committees on supported housing. I worked hard to ensure that the voices of those who were most directly affected by government policy in this area – residents living in supported housing – were at the centre of the inquiry, and we saw the first person with Down Syndrome to give evidence to a parliamentary select committee. The inquiry report led to a government U-turn.

I have served for almost three years as a Shadow Education Minister. I have an in-depth and up to date knowledge of every aspect of the Department for Education’s responsibilities, scrutinising the Department’s work and building strong relationships with a wide range of stakeholders across education and children’s services.

I will be a fair and inclusive Chair and a strong voice for the Committee and its work in the Chamber and in our wider national discourse.

I am committed to ensuring that the Education Select Committee takes the widest possible evidence for each inquiry, including by making visits to education and care settings across the country.

Throughout my time in Parliament, I have worked collaboratively and on a cross-party basis on select committees and APPGs, including as a Co-Chair of the APPG on Adult Social Care throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. I will make sure every voice in the room is heard fairly.

Please vote for me with your first preference on Wednesday. Thank you. 

Further information

Image credit: House of Commons