Margaret Elizabeth Atkinson[1] (born 16 September 1956)[1] is an English educator and the former Children's Commissioner for England.

[6] Atkinson was appointed Children's Commissioner in March 2010,[4] Following a lengthy selection process, Ed Balls, the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, announced that Atkinson was the preferred candidate to be put through the vetting process in front of the newly created Education Select Committee.

[11] The response by the government was that they had no wish to criminalise parents for issuing a mild smack, while the NSPCC welcomed the commissioner's comments.

[12] In July 2022, a complaint was referred to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) that Atkinson had broken data protection rules during correspondence with a survivor of clerical abuse.

[14] In January 2023, a third complaint of a data breach was upheld by the ICO with a General Advice note issued.

[16] In December 2013, Atkinson was a member of a team of Keele graduates appearing on a Christmas Special edition of University Challenge, answering questions on Andy Murray's first Wimbledon win and Hull as UK City of Culture.