[4] In 1879, Acland sat on the committee to create an Oxford women's college "in which no distinction will be made between students on the ground of their belonging to different religious denominations."

The incongruity was increased by the fact that the Yorkshire town was several hundred miles from Acland's home in Devon.

Nonetheless, he was easily elected in 1885 and remained Member of Parliament for Rotherham until the end of his political career in 1899.

In 1892, William Ewart Gladstone appointed Acland Vice-President of the Council of Education,[6] with a seat in the cabinet.

His cabinet status gave him effective control of the educational authorities (The Council President, Lord Kimberley, was a figurehead).

Although re-elected, he effectively resigned from Parliament in 1899 by requesting appointment to the position of Steward of the Manor of Northstead, a nominal office of profit under the Crown.