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. Previous chairs include Robert Halfon MP (2017–2022), Neil Carmichael (2015–17) and Graham Stuart MP (2010–2015).
Chairs Committee chairs include those listed below.https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/203/education-committee/membership/former/https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/46/education-skills/membership/former/https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/12/children-schools-and-families/membership/former/https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/43/education-employment/membership/former/
NameStartEndPartyConstituencyConservativeLiverpool GarstonLabourBarkingLabourCroydon NorthLabour Co-opHuddersfieldConservativeBeverley and HoldernessConservativeStroudConservativeHarlowConservativeWorcesterpresentLabourDulwich and West Norwood
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. Elections are held at the beginning of a parliament or in the event of a vacancy.
ChairPartyConstituencyFirst electedMethodHelen Hayes MPLabourDulwich and West Norwood11 SeptemberElected by the House of CommonsRobin Walker MPConservativeWorcester16 November 2022Elected by the House of CommonsRobert Halfon MPConservativeHarlow12 July 2017Elected by the House of CommonsNeil Carmichael MPConservativeStroud18 June 2015Elected by the House of CommonsGraham Stuart MPConservativeBeverley and Holderness9 June 2010Elected by the House of CommonsPreviously as Children, Schools and Families Select CommitteeBarry Sheerman MPLabour Co-opHuddersfield12 November 2007Elected by the Select CommitteePreviously as Education and Skills Select CommitteeBarry Sheerman MPLabour Co-opHuddersfield16 July 2001Elected by the Select Committee
16 November 2022 Candidate 1st round 2nd round Votes % Votes % Helen Hayes26347.231259.3 Sharon Hodgson19735.421440.7 Marie Tidball9717.4Eliminated Not redistributed 31 5.6 Valid votes 557 526
16 November 2022 Candidate 1st round 2nd round Votes % Votes % Robin Walker21748.122852.3 Caroline Ansell10823.912428.4 David Simmonds7015.58419.3 Jonathan Gullis5612.4Eliminated Not redistributed 15 3.3 Valid votes 451 436
27 January 2020 Candidate 1st round Votes % Robert Halfon Unopposed
12 July 2017 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 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 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
Current membership On 5 September 2024, nominations for the role were opened with the candidates being Labour MPs Sharon Hodgson, Marie Tidball and Helen Hayes. Hayes was elected. The full membership as of 29 October 2024 is:
Member Party Constituency Helen Hayes MP (Chair) Labour Dulwich and West Norwood Jess Asato MP Labour Lowestoft Sureena Brackenridge MP Labour Wolverhampton North East Jodie Gosling MP Labour Nuneaton Caroline Johnson MP Conservative Sleaford and North Hykeham Darren Paffey MP Labour Southampton Itchen Rebecca Paul MP Conservative Reigate Manuela Perteghella MP Lib Dems Stratford-on-Avon Mark Sewards MP Labour Leeds South West and Morley Peter Swallow MP Labour Bracknell Caroline Voaden MP Lib Dems South Devon
Changes since 2024 Date Outgoing Member& Party Constituency → New Member& Party Constituency Source 30 June 2025 Patrick Spencer MP (Independent) Central Suffolk and North Ipswich → James Cleverly MP (Conservative) Braintree Hansard 28 October 2025 Amanda Martin MP (Labour) Portsmouth North→ Peter Swallow MP (Labour) BracknellHansard Marie Tidball MP (Labour) Penistone and Stocksbridge Chris Vince MP (Labour) Harlow 1 December 2025 James Cleverly MP (Conservative) Braintree → Rebecca Paul MP (Conservative) Reigate Hansard 22 June 2026 Chris Vince MP (Labour) Harlow → Jodie Gosling MP (Labour) Nuneaton Hansard
2019–2024 Parliament The chair was elected on 27 January 2020, with the members of the committee being announced on 2 March 2020.
Member Party ConstituencyRobert Halfon MP (Chair) ConservativeHarlowFleur Anderson MP LabourPutneyApsana Begum MP LabourPoplar and LimehouseJonathan Gullis MP ConservativeStoke-on-Trent NorthTom Hunt MP ConservativeIpswichDr Caroline Johnson MP ConservativeSleaford and North HykehamDavid Johnston MP ConservativeWantage Ian Mearns MP Labour Gateshead Lucy Powell MPLabour Co-op Manchester CentralDavid Simmonds MP ConservativeRuislip, Northwood and PinnerChristian Wakeford MPConservativeBury 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 2020Fleur Anderson MP (Labour)Putney→Dawn Butler MP (Labour)Brent Central HansardLucy Powell MP (Labour and Co-op)Manchester CentralKim Johnson MP (Labour)Liverpool Riverside 21 September 2020Dawn Butler MP (Labour)Brent Central→Fleur Anderson MP (Labour)PutneyHansard 13 July 2021Fleur Anderson MP (Labour)Putney→Mohammad Yasin MP (Labour)Bedford 7 September 2021Jonathan Gullis MP (Conservative)Stoke-on-Trent North→Nicola Richards MP (Conservative)West Bromwich EastHansard 19 October 2021David Johnston MP (Conservative)Wantage→Miriam Cates MP (Conservative)Penistone and Stocksbridge HansardDavid Simmonds MP (Conservative)Ruislip, Northwood and PinnerBrendan Clarke-Smith MP (Conservative)Bassetlaw 15 March 2022Brendan Clarke-Smith MP (Conservative)Bassetlaw→Caroline Ansell MP (Conservative)Eastbourne HansardChristian Wakeford MP (Labour)Bury SouthAnna Firth MP (Conservative)Southend West 29 March 2022Nicola Richards MP (Conservative)West Bromwich East→Angela Richardson MP (Conservative)GuildfordHansard 25 October 2022 Dr Caroline Johnson MP (Conservative)Sleaford and North Hykeham→Andrew Lewer MP (Conservative)Northampton SouthHansard 27 October 2022Robert Halfon MP (Chair, Conservative)Harlow→ VacantHansard 8 November 2022Tom Hunt MP (Conservative)Ipswich→Flick Drummond MP (Conservative)Meon ValleyHansard 16 November 2022 Vacant→Robin Walker MP (Chair, Conservative)WorcesterHansard 29 November 2022Angela Richardson MP (Conservative)Guildford→Nick Fletcher MP (Conservative)Don ValleyHansard 13 March 2023Kate Osborne MP (Labour)Jarrow→Mohammad Yasin MP (Labour)BedfordHansard 22 January 2024Miriam Cates MP (Conservative)Penistone and Stocksbridge→Vicky Ford MP (Conservative)ChelmsfordHansard 30 April 2024Apsana Begum MP (Labour)Poplar and Limehouse→Gen Kitchen MP (Labour)Wellingborough HansardKim Johnson MP (Labour)Liverpool RiversideJess 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.
Member Party Constituency Robert Halfon MP (Chair) Conservative HarlowLucy Allan MP ConservativeTelfordMichelle Donelan MP ConservativeChippenhamMarion Fellows MP Scottish National PartyMotherwell and WishawJames Frith MP LabourBury North Emma Hardy MPLabour Kingston upon Hull West and HessleTrudy Harrison MP ConservativeCopeland Ian Mearns MP Labour GatesheadLucy Powell MP LabourManchester CentralThelma Walker MP LabourColne ValleyWilliam Wragg MP ConservativeHazel Grove
Changes 2017–2019 Date Outgoing Member& Party Constituency → New Member& Party Constituency Source 22 October 2018Michelle Donelan MP (Conservative)Chippenham→Ben Bradley MP (Conservative)MansfieldHansard
2015–2017 Parliament The chair was elected on 18 June 2015, with members being announced on 6 July 2015.
Member Party Constituency Neil Carmichael MP (Chair) Conservative StroudLucy Allan MP ConservativeTelfordIan Austin MP LabourDudley NorthMichelle Donelan MP ConservativeChippenhamMarion Fellows MP Scottish National PartyMotherwell and WishawSuella Fernandes MP ConservativeFarehamLucy Frazer MP ConservativeSouth East Cambridgeshire Kate Hollern MPLabour Blackburn Ian Mearns MP Labour GatesheadCaroline Nokes MP ConservativeRomsey and Southampton NorthKate Osamor MP LabourEdmonton
Changes 2015–2017 Date Outgoing Member& Party Constituency → New Member& Party Constituency Source 1 February 2016Kate Hollern MP (Labour)Blackburn→Catherine McKinnell MP (Labour)Newcastle upon Tyne NorthHansardKate Osamor MP (Labour)EdmontonStephen Timms MP (Labour)East Ham 22 February 2016Caroline Nokes MP (Conservative)Romsey and Southampton North→William Wragg MP (Conservative)Hazel GroveHansard 31 October 2016Stephen Timms MP (Labour)East Ham→Lilian Greenwood MP (Labour)Nottingham SouthHansard
2010–2015 Parliament The chair was elected on 10 June 2010, with members being announced on 12 July 2010.
Member Party Constituency Graham Stuart MP (Chair) Conservative Beverley and HoldernessConor Burns MP ConservativeBournemouth WestNic Dakin MP LabourScunthorpePat Glass MP LabourNorth West DurhamDamian Hinds MP ConservativeEast Hampshire Liz Kendall MPLabour Leicester WestCharlotte Leslie MP ConservativeBristol North West Ian Mearns MP Labour GatesheadTessa Munt MP Liberal DemocratsWellsLisa Nandy MP LabourWiganCraig Whittaker MP Conservative Calder Valley
Changes 2010–2015 Date Outgoing Member& Party Constituency → New Member& Party Constituency Source 2 November 2010Conor Burns MP (Conservative)Bournemouth West →Neil Carmichael MP (Conservative)Stroud HansardLiz Kendall MP (Labour)Leicester WestBill Esterson MP (Labour)Sefton Central 31 October 2016Nic Dakin MP (Labour)Scunthorpe→Alex Cunningham MP (Labour)Stockton NorthHansard 11 June 2012Tessa Munt MP (Liberal Democrats)Wells→David Ward MP (Liberal Democrats)Bradford EastHansard 10 September 2012Lisa Nandy MP (Labour)Wigan→Siobhain McDonagh MP (Labour)Mitcham and MordenHansard 5 November 2012Damian Hinds MP (Conservative)East Hampshire→Chris Skidmore MP (Conservative)KingswoodHansard 4 November 2013Charlotte Leslie MP (Conservative)Bristol North West→Dominic Raab MP (Conservative)Esher and WaltonHansard 18 March 2014Chris Skidmore MP (Conservative)Kingswood→Caroline Nokes MP (Conservative)Romsey and Southampton NorthHansard
Publications
2017 - 2019 Parliament