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| MPs oppose Nicky Morgan's choice of Ofsted head | MPs oppose Nicky Morgan's choice of Ofsted head |
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| The government’s nominee for head of the schools watchdog, Ofsted, has been opposed by a committee of MPs who said she lacked passion and leadership ability. | The government’s nominee for head of the schools watchdog, Ofsted, has been opposed by a committee of MPs who said she lacked passion and leadership ability. |
| The decision by the Conservative-dominated education select committee that it will not back Amanda Spielman for the post of Her Majesty’s chief inspector of schools is believed to be only the second time a parliamentary committee has sought to block a government nominee for public office [see footnote]. | |
| Related: Government nominees and select committees | Letters | |
| The result is an embarrassment for the education secretary, Nicky Morgan, who selected Spielman to replace the current Ofsted head, Sir Michael Wilshaw, and a headache for David Cameron, who must decide whether to expend political capital in appointing Spielman over the committee’s objections. | The result is an embarrassment for the education secretary, Nicky Morgan, who selected Spielman to replace the current Ofsted head, Sir Michael Wilshaw, and a headache for David Cameron, who must decide whether to expend political capital in appointing Spielman over the committee’s objections. |
| On Wednesday Morgan responded with a statement saying she was “surprised and disappointed” by the committee’s decision. | On Wednesday Morgan responded with a statement saying she was “surprised and disappointed” by the committee’s decision. |
| Morgan said: “Ms Spielman has a proven track record as a leader and huge experience in the education sector having helped found Ark, one of the most successful academy chains in the country and worked as the chair of Ofqual. | Morgan said: “Ms Spielman has a proven track record as a leader and huge experience in the education sector having helped found Ark, one of the most successful academy chains in the country and worked as the chair of Ofqual. |
| “I believe she will be a highly effective leader who will be unafraid to do the right thing and where necessary challenge schools, local authorities and government where education and social care services are not meeting the standards our children deserve. I will now consider [the committee’s] report and respond in due course.” | “I believe she will be a highly effective leader who will be unafraid to do the right thing and where necessary challenge schools, local authorities and government where education and social care services are not meeting the standards our children deserve. I will now consider [the committee’s] report and respond in due course.” |
| Related: Next Ofsted chief defends lack of teaching experience | Related: Next Ofsted chief defends lack of teaching experience |
| If No 10 chooses not to go ahead with the appointment or if Spielman withdraws, the DfE may reopen applications for the post and start the process again or appoint the other shortlisted final candidate, Toby Salt, an academy chain head, to avoid political complications. | If No 10 chooses not to go ahead with the appointment or if Spielman withdraws, the DfE may reopen applications for the post and start the process again or appoint the other shortlisted final candidate, Toby Salt, an academy chain head, to avoid political complications. |
| Spielman’s nomination received immediate criticism after it was first announced last month. Teaching unions said her lack of frontline training in teaching made her unsuitable to be inspecting schools. | Spielman’s nomination received immediate criticism after it was first announced last month. Teaching unions said her lack of frontline training in teaching made her unsuitable to be inspecting schools. |
| But others were enthusiastic about Spielman’s calm manner in contrast to the more aggressive Wilshaw, and pointed to her managerial experience. | But others were enthusiastic about Spielman’s calm manner in contrast to the more aggressive Wilshaw, and pointed to her managerial experience. |
| The education committee held hearings to quiz Spielman, and its report concludes that she “did not demonstrate sufficient vision or show the leadership abilities we feel will be needed. We were concerned by the lack of passion she demonstrated for the job and the important contribution it makes to the lives of children.” | The education committee held hearings to quiz Spielman, and its report concludes that she “did not demonstrate sufficient vision or show the leadership abilities we feel will be needed. We were concerned by the lack of passion she demonstrated for the job and the important contribution it makes to the lives of children.” |
| Angela Rayner, the shadow education secretary, said the report raised questions about Morgan’s judgment. | Angela Rayner, the shadow education secretary, said the report raised questions about Morgan’s judgment. |
| She said: “We need to get the right person in this role if our children are to get the education they deserve. I would urge Nicky Morgan to look very seriously again at whether Ms Spielman is the best person for this extremely important job.” | She said: “We need to get the right person in this role if our children are to get the education they deserve. I would urge Nicky Morgan to look very seriously again at whether Ms Spielman is the best person for this extremely important job.” |
| Neil Carmichael, the Conservative who chairs the education committee, said the MPs who took part in writing the report were unconvinced that Spielman was “prepared for the vast scope and complexity of this important role”. | Neil Carmichael, the Conservative who chairs the education committee, said the MPs who took part in writing the report were unconvinced that Spielman was “prepared for the vast scope and complexity of this important role”. |
| He said: “Ms Spielman has experience of secondary education but she did not persuade that she had a clear understanding of the other aspects of the chief inspector’s role, including early years, primary education, further education, and children’s services. | He said: “Ms Spielman has experience of secondary education but she did not persuade that she had a clear understanding of the other aspects of the chief inspector’s role, including early years, primary education, further education, and children’s services. |
| “Ms Spielman’s responses on child protection were particularly troubling and did not inspire confidence that she grasped the importance of Ofsted’s inspections in preventing children being held at risk through service failure.” | “Ms Spielman’s responses on child protection were particularly troubling and did not inspire confidence that she grasped the importance of Ofsted’s inspections in preventing children being held at risk through service failure.” |
| Carmichael conceded it was unusual for a select committee not to support a government candidate. “However, it is our responsibility to hold government to account,” Carmichael said. | Carmichael conceded it was unusual for a select committee not to support a government candidate. “However, it is our responsibility to hold government to account,” Carmichael said. |
| Mark Dawe, a former chief executive of the OCR examination board, disagreed with the committee’s conclusion. “Our view is that the government should go ahead with Ms Spielman’s appointment because we believe that she has done a very good job at Ofqual,” said Dawe, who now heads the Association of Employment and Learning Providers. | Mark Dawe, a former chief executive of the OCR examination board, disagreed with the committee’s conclusion. “Our view is that the government should go ahead with Ms Spielman’s appointment because we believe that she has done a very good job at Ofqual,” said Dawe, who now heads the Association of Employment and Learning Providers. |
| “As for the committee’s desire for passion, some of the previous chief inspectors have had this in abundance and if misdirected it’s not always a good thing.” | “As for the committee’s desire for passion, some of the previous chief inspectors have had this in abundance and if misdirected it’s not always a good thing.” |
| Related: Increase teacher pay or face staff shortages, government warned | Related: Increase teacher pay or face staff shortages, government warned |
| Spielman’s track record was bolstered by new analysis from the Sutton Trust, which placed Ark among the best multi-academy trusts for disadvantaged pupils. Pupils at Ark eligible for free school meals performed significantly above average, the research found. | Spielman’s track record was bolstered by new analysis from the Sutton Trust, which placed Ark among the best multi-academy trusts for disadvantaged pupils. Pupils at Ark eligible for free school meals performed significantly above average, the research found. |
| The DfE’s new performance league table for academy trusts – to be first published on Thursday – also show Ark to be one of the best-performing secondary school chains in England. | The DfE’s new performance league table for academy trusts – to be first published on Thursday – also show Ark to be one of the best-performing secondary school chains in England. |
| Meanwhile, the government faced criticism over teachers’ pay in a report by the School Teachers’ Review Body. The independent pay review body warned that teacher shortages in England and Wales would worsen unless the government substantially raised pay, and predicted it would soon be forced to do so. | Meanwhile, the government faced criticism over teachers’ pay in a report by the School Teachers’ Review Body. The independent pay review body warned that teacher shortages in England and Wales would worsen unless the government substantially raised pay, and predicted it would soon be forced to do so. |
| A DfE spokesperson said: “The 2016 pay deal includes a 1% uplift to pay ranges and allowances and highlights schools’ flexibilities around recruitment and retention, including offering salary advances for rental deposits.” | A DfE spokesperson said: “The 2016 pay deal includes a 1% uplift to pay ranges and allowances and highlights schools’ flexibilities around recruitment and retention, including offering salary advances for rental deposits.” |
| • This footnote was added on 10 July 2016: After this article was published, we received a letter from the Constitution Unit at UCL that said its research had found four previous occasions when a select committee has recommended against appointment. |