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Education secretary overrules MPs' report on new Ofsted chief

Education secretary Nicky Morgan has confirmed she is pressing ahead with the appointment of Amanda Spielman as Ofsted chief inspector, despite a damning MPs’ report.

In a strongly-worded letter to Education Committee chair Neil Carmichal, Ms Morgan accused the cross-party committee of making a number of errors, including desiring qualities that were not on the job spec, and having a ‘narrow and stereotypical’ view of leadership.

The committee earlier today announced its rejection of the nomination, claiming it had ‘significant concerns’ about Ms Spielman’s suitability, after holding a pre-appointment hearing with her.

In her letter to Conservative MP for Stroud this afternoon, Ms Morgan overruled the committee’s findings, having considered the available evidence.

She wrote, ‘This has been an open and transparent process, where the best candidate has been selected on merit.

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