Department for Education officials expressed concerns about the 鈥渄iversity鈥� of its non-executive board when appointing Sir Kevan Collins as a director, noting they were 鈥渁ll white men of a similar age already鈥�. Emails and text messages obtained under the freedom of information act detail how civil servants began preparing for Collins鈥檚 appointment on July 2, before Labour won the election. The appointment, which was made directly rather than through a competitive process, has been questioned by some Conservatives, including former Downing Street adviser Henry Newman. Direct appointments are allowed as long as they are cleared by the Commissioner for Public Appointments and the rationale is published. The DfE said Collins鈥檚 experience as a former head of the , director of children鈥檚 services and teacher justified his appointment. Communications obtained by Schools Week shows the proper process was followed, but officials raised concerns about the perception of the direct appointment and the diversity of the board.聽 Only three of the nine-member panel are women 鈥� education secretary Bridget Phillipson, permanent secretary Susan Acland-Hood and operations director Jane Cunliffe. The six externally appointed members are all men. In an email sent on Friday July 5, the day after the general election, an unnamed member of staff set out 鈥渟ome things to note for Q&A鈥�. These included 鈥渓ack of diversity in the NED [non-executive director] cohort 鈥� they鈥檙e all white men of a similar age already, KC does not diversify the cohort. He adds diversity of thought though with his experience.鈥� It went on: 鈥淓verything we鈥檙e doing is by the book, but there may be a reaction to Labour directly appointing someone as opposed to running a public competition.鈥�