Nursery World - Dame Martina named new chair of Social Mobility Commission amid controversy

The Education Committee has endorsed Dame Martina Milburn as chair of the Social Mobility Commission, despite concerns that the education secretary became too personally involved in the appointment.

Following a hearing with the Government's preferred candidate for chair of the commission on Wednesday, the Education Select Committee has endorsed her appointment.

However, in a report prepared for the Government following the hearing, the commitee has criticised the education secretary Damian Hinds for the way he became personally involved in the appointment of the new chair for the Social Mobility Commission (SMC), which has been empty for more than six months.

In May, it was announced that the education secretary Damian Hinds had put forward Dame Martina Milburn for chair of the SMC and her appointment would be subject to a hearing with the Education Select Committee.

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