Ellen Wilkinson becomes Britain's first female Minister of Education #1945

Ellen Wilkinson (1891–1947) was a British Labour Party politician who served as Minister of Education from July 1945 until her death. Earlier in her career, as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Jarrow, she became a national figure when she played a prominent role in the 1936 Jarrow March of the town's unemployed to London to petition for the right to work. Although unsuccessful at that time, the March provided an iconic image for the 1930s and helped to form post-Second World War attitudes to unemployment and social justice. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellen_Wilkinson

 

 

Since 1900, 44 men and 9 women have had charge of English education. They included one duke, two marquesses, two earls, two viscounts and three hereditary baronets. Eight were old Etonians; four were old Harrovians; 10 went to state schools but only two, including Gavin Williamson, the present incumbent, to comprehensives. Only four had ever been schoolteachers; about twice as many were barristers. One (you know who) went on to be prime minister. www.theguardian.com/education/2020/nov/21/is-gavin-williamson-the-worst-education-secretary-ever

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