A Government social mobility tsar has quit her role as she said she was "too much baggage" and doing "more harm than good".
Katharine Birbalsingh, Britain’s so-called “strictest headteacher” said some of her "controversial" statements had put the Social Mobility Commission in "jeopardy".
When first appointed chair in 2021, she said the debate on social mobility was too focused on people from poor backgrounds getting into top universities and elite professions.
She was also criticised last year for saying girls are less likely to choose physics A-level because it involves "hard maths”. She later admitted her remarks had been "clunky".
In an article announcing her resignation for Schools Week, Ms Birbalsingh said her message had been lost due to the press misrepresenting her views.
She said: “I am still to this day attacked for my apparently abhorrent views on social mobility.”
Ms Birbalsingh, who set up the high-achieving Michaela Community School in Brent, wrote: "I come with too much baggage. Over this past year, I have become increasingly aware that my propensity to voice opinions that are considered controversial puts the commission in jeopardy."
She said she has to “carefully craft my utterances to leave no room for misinterpreting me and misrepresenting the commission”.
“Instead of going out there to bat for the team and celebrate our achievements, I am becoming a politician. And I can’t bear the idea of ever being a politician. It just isn’t who I am or a skillset I wish to develop,” she added.
Equalities minister Kemi Badenoch said Alun Francis, the principal of Oldham College and deputy chair of the commission, would take on the role on an interim basis.
Ms Badenoch praised Ms Birbalsingh, thanking her for "successfully giving the organisation a strong sense of direction and purpose".
She said Mr Francis “has all the necessary skills and experience to ensure accountability and strong leadership of the Commission and will continue to champion and improve social mobility across the UK".
He said that he was "very pleased" to take on the role. "The Commission has had a fantastic 12 months, from launching our first State of the Nation report to making great progress on our research priorities.
"The SMC continues to go from strength to strength, and I look forward to working with the Minister for Women and Equalities to continue to champion social mobility across Britain."
