The Commons Education Committee has launched a Twitter appeal for questions for MPs to ask the education secretary, Michael Gove.

Mr Gove is due to give oral evidence to the Committee next week and it has been revealed that the public has responded enthusiastically to the idea.

The MPs are determined to reflect the most pressing concerns in education, according to a spokeswoman for the Committee.

Graham Stuart MP, who chairs the committee, hailed the innovative approach, saying: "This is a good way of breaking down the seemingly vast gap between the governed and the governing."

He added: "We are always looking at ways of reaching out and making sure people can use our services to help us hold the government to account."

The questions that make it from Twitter into the session with Mr Gove are to be decided by Committee staff and MPs, who will sort through them shortly.