A HERTFORDSHIRE MP has been called up to serve on a committee scrutinising the Government’s education reforms.

Stephen McPartland, the MP for Stevenage, has joined the Education Bill Committee, which has been created to examine a number of the coalition Government’s policies on education, reforming OFSTED inspections and the Academies and Free Schools programmes.

Mr McPartland’s own constituency is currently the subject of a Free School application, from the We Need A School campaign, which wants to build a secondary in the area of Knebworth or Woolmer Green.

Mr McPartland said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to get to the heart of legislation and make a real impact.

“The bill offers us the opportunity to improve educational standards for all pupils, especially those from poorer backgrounds.”