A college principal has been picked by government as its preferred candidate to take over from Katharine Birbalsingh as chair of the Social Mobility Commission. Alun Francis, outgoing principal of Oldham College, has been filling in as interim chair聽. The former deputy chair has been overseeing the State of the Nation report, which aims to cement the commission鈥檚聽 鈥淭he Commission has been working hard for two years to build a solid foundation for some new thinking about the focus and priorities of policy,鈥� Francis said. 鈥淭his is a tremendous opportunity to bring this work to fruition. I especially hope to draw on my experience of working in further education, and my knowledge and understanding of so-called 鈥榣eft behind鈥� people and places, to make a positive contribution.鈥� Birbalsingh quit earlier this year saying her controversial opinions 鈥減ut the commission in jeopardy鈥� and it is doing 鈥渕ore harm than good鈥�. Francis鈥� appointment will be subject to a pre-appointment hearing with the House of Commons women and equalities select committee. Equalities minister Kemi Badenoch said Francis had 鈥渄emonstrated the knowledge, skills and expertise which are necessary to lead the Social Mobility Commission, maintaining the organisation鈥檚 position as a champion of social mobility across the UK.鈥� Baroness Stowell, an FE college alumna from the Midlands , has also been appointed a commissioner on the board. She would provide 鈥渇urther insight and understanding to the already diverse and accomplished SMC board鈥�, Badenoch added. The commission is expected to publish its final State of the Nation report later this year.