Ofqual Board Member
- Body
- Ofqual (Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation)
- Appointing Department
- Department for Education
- Sectors
- Business, Finance & Skills, Charity & Public Sector, Education, Regulation, Science & Technology
- Location
- Office based in Coventry. Ofqual is reviewing its long-term position regarding home / office working. Currently staff are working in a hybrid way. Board and Committee meetings will now be held flexibly either using Microsoft Teams or in person where this is beneficial. Strategy days take place up to three times a year and will be in person either in Coventry or in London.
- Number of Vacancies
- Up to 6
- Remuneration
- £6,000 per annum
- Time Requirements
- Up to 20 days a year
Campaign Timeline
-
Competition Launched
02/12/2021
-
Closed for Applications
10/01/2022 at 10:00
-
Panel Sift
08/02/2022
-
Final Interview Date
30th March,1st April, 13th April 2022
-
Announcement
04/07/2022
Announcement
An announcement has been made on the outcome of this appointment.
Chris Paterson, Cindy Leslie, Hardip Begol, Eileen Milner, Mark Farrar and Clare Pelham have been appointed as Board Members of the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual). They will serve for 3 years from 1 July 2022.
Remuneration is £6,000 per annum for a time commitment of up to 20 days per year.
Chris Paterson, Eileen Milner and Mark Farrar have not declared any interests.
Cindy Leslie has declared the following interests: • Chair of the board of governors of Channing School, Highgate, London; • Governor of Birkbeck, University of London.
Hardip Begol has declared the following interests: • CEO, Woodard Academies Trust (due to step down 31 July); • Member, Eden Academy Trust; • Non-executive director, The Centre for Education and Youth.
Clare Pelham has declared the following interests: • Governor of Birmingham City University; • Director of Buckinghamshire Local Enterprise Partnership; • Member of MHRA Expert Working Group on Sodium Valproate (Payment of £200 is made to the Epilepsy Society for every meeting attended).
Chris Paterson, Cindy Leslie, Hardip Begol, Eileen Milner and Mark Farrar have not declared any political activity.
Clare Pelham is a member of Women2Win, an organisation that aims to increase the number of Conservative women in Parliament and public life.
The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation is a non-ministerial government department that regulates qualifications, examinations and assessments in England. The appointments are made by the Secretary of State for Education.
Date: 04/07/2022
Assessment Panel
- Panel Member
- Jenny Oldroyd (sift) / Stuart Miller (interviews)
- Positions
- Due to a change in circumstances, Stuart Miller will replace Jenny Oldroyd on the Advisory Assessment Panel for the interviews.
Show more information
| Political Activity | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Notes | - |
- Panel Member
- Ian Bauckham
- Positions
- Interim Chair of Ofqual, CEO and Director of Tenax Schools Trust Representative of Organisation
Show more information
| Political Activity | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Notes | - |
- Panel Member
- Dame Rachel DeSouza
- Positions
- Children’s Commissioner for England Independent Member
Show more information
| Political Activity | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Notes | - |
Vacancy Description
Most of us will have memories of taking exams as part of our school career. Qualifications – taken in schools, colleges, training centres or the workplace – play a key role, not just in our education system but in our economy too. They open doors to new opportunities. For employers, they help to inform recruitment and to develop their people. Ofqual’s job, as the independent regulator for qualifications and assessment in England, is to regulate the over 170 organisations that provide those qualifications.
The Ofqual Board is the legal authority responsible for the regulation of qualifications in England. It provides leadership and direction to Ofqual, setting strategic aims, values and standards.
We are recruiting up to six high calibre individuals to join the Ofqual Board. Most importantly, we’re looking for experienced, strategic, pragmatic and collaborative individuals who are comfortable working in a rapidly changing policy environment. Board members need to be able both to see the bigger picture to shape the strategic direction of the organisation; and to provide relevant, insightful challenge and guidance to Ofqual’s executive team.
You will be expected to support Ofqual’s aims and objectives and act as ambassadors for the organisation.
Person Specification
Throughout the application and interview stages, candidates will need to demonstrate how they meet all the following essential criteria:
- The ability to think strategically and independently, bringing pragmatism and insight to a complex policy environment;
- The ability to drive forward the work of an organisation at non-executive level, with a successful track record in the public, voluntary or private sectors;
- A commitment to Ofqual as a regulator and its role in ensuring that qualifications and assessments are rigorous, valid and reliable and that standards and public confidence in qualifications are maintained, ensuring a priority is given to fairness to students;
- The ability to build effective relationships at senior levels and/or between organisations; and
- Experience and knowledge which will contribute to the Ofqual board. This may include, but is not restricted to, extensive experience and understanding of: school and/or college leadership; working with government; regulation; leading innovation and use of new technologies; general qualifications and assessment; vocational and technical qualifications and apprenticeships; risk and assurance.
If we receive a large volume of applications, there will be an initial sift undertaken by officials, using the first criterion:The ability to think strategically and independently, bringing pragmatism and insight to a complex policy environment, only. They will then review all criteria for successful candidates. Those meeting the required standard will then progress to the main sift where the Advisory Assessment Panel be considering the evidence presented against all of the criteria.
Additional Information
The Department is focused on equality of opportunity and is committed to ensuring that public appointments better represent the views of the communities which we serve. We particularly encourage applicants from under-represented groups, those based outside London and the South-East, along with people who have achieved success through non-traditional educational routes. We will cover travel and acommodation expenses for meetings held in Coventry.
Appointments are made by the Secretary of State for Education, The Rt Hon Nadhim Zahawi MP.
How to Apply
Please submit the following documents by email to: PublicAppointments.APPLICATIONS@education.gov.uk
- A candidate application form.
- A completed evidence template – you will need to demonstrate clearly how you meet each of the essential criteria (max 300 words per criterion – if this is exceeded only the first 300 words will be considered).
- A CV no more than two sides of A4 in Arial font 12.
- Diversity form.
Please include ‘Ofqual Board member application’ in the subject box and submit each document as a separate attachment.
We are happy to accept applications in alternative formats from applicants who, for reasons of disability, may find it difficult to fill in our standard form. If you would like to have a chat with us about reasonable adjustments please contact us at: PublicAppointments.APPLICATIONS@education.gov.uk
Please note the following:
- we cannot accept applications submitted after the closing date;
- applications will be assessed solely on the documentation provided; please refer to the advert and checklist above to ensure you have provided everything requested;
- applications will be acknowledged upon receipt;
- we cannot provide feedback at application stage; feedback will only be given to candidates unsuccessful following interview;
- if a large number of applications are received, a preliminary sifting exercise will be conducted (see above). You should be aware that in this situation, your application might not be considered in full by all the members of the panel;
- for successful candidates invited to interview, Ofqual will reimburse the cost of a standard travel ticket to the venue.
This appointment is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments, William Shawcross.