A former education secretary and the government’s school standards adviser are among those who have been appointed to the board of an inquiry investigating the educational outcomes of white, working-class children and young people.
Among the most high-profile members are Baroness Nicky Morgan, who was education secretary between 2014 and 2016, and Sir Kevan Collins, the Department for Education’s school standards adviser.
The new board members will work alongside the previously announced co-chairs Baroness Estelle Morris, who was education secretary from 2001 to 2002, and Sir Hamid Patel, chief executive of the Star Academies, which commissioned the inquiry.
Inquiry into white, working-class children’s education
The full list of board members is as follows:
- James Bowen, assistant general secretary of the NAHT school leaders’ union
- Anne-Marie Canning, chief executive of The Brilliant Club
- Dame Sally Coates, director of academies at United Learning
- Professor Rob Coe, director of research and development at Evidence Based Education
- Sir Kevan Collins, school standards adviser and non-executive board member at the Department for Education
- Steve Crocker, non-executive board member at the Department for Education
- Leora Cruddas, chief executive of the Confederation of School Trusts
- Pepe Di’Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders
- Lucy Heller, chief executive of Ark
- David Hughes, chief executive of the Association of Colleges
- Professor Lindsey Macmillan, founding director of the UCL Centre for Education Policy and Equalising Opportunities (CEPEO)
- Baroness Nicky Morgan, former secretary of state for education and current member of the House of Lords
- Baroness Sally Morgan, former director of government relations in 10 Downing Street and current member of the House of Lords
- Dame Lesley Powell, chief executive of the North East Learning Trust
Sir Hamid welcomed the members of the board, saying: “Together we will take a fresh, evidence-led look at the persistent challenges facing white, working-class pupils and work towards practical solutions that can make a lasting difference.”
The inquiry will investigate what is and isn’t working for white, working-class children and young people, and why. The research will include data analysis, polling, focus groups and immersive research with parents, teachers, children and young people, and communities.
It will develop recommendations for reform, best practice and interventions that can change long-term outcomes for white, working-class young people. The findings are set to be published next year.
Baroness Morris said: “Underachievement in groups of white, working-class young people has been a problem for far too long, wasting talent and reducing opportunity. I hope that our work can contribute to some of the solutions.”
The inquiry was commissioned by Star Academies and has Public First as its secretariat. It is funded by the Christopher and Henry Oldfield Trust.
While two government non-executive directors will sit on its board, the inquiry is independent of the government.
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