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Amanda Spielman named as new Ofsted chief inspector

Ofqual chair Amanda Spielman has been approved by the government as the next Ofsted chief inspector.

A Department for Education (DfE) source confirmed that Number 10 had cleared her appointment. Ministers will now wait on agreement from the Commons education select committee before final appointment.

In a press release Nicky Morgan said that Spielman was “the right person” to “improve the quality and consistency of Ofsted’s inspections”.

The move, first reported in TES, is unlikely to be welcomed in some education circles, as as Spielman has not previously worked as a teacher, instead beginning her career in corporate finance.

However, she has spent the past decade developing the successful academy trust ARK and is currently chair of Ofqual, the exam regulator having recently served a period as interim CEO.

Spielman fought off a series of other candidates, which reportedly included Russell Hobby, general secretary of heads’ union NAHT, and Toby Salt, chief executive of the Ormiston Academies Trust.

In a profile interview with Schools Week in 2014 Spielman said she found working as a regulator more “interesting and satisfying” than she had ever imagined.

 

Amanda Spielman CV

July 2011 – Present, Chair Ofqual
June 2011 – Present, Education Advisor, ARK
2005 – 2012, Research and policy director, ARK
2002 – 2004, Consultant
1996 – 2000, Strategy Director, Nomura International
1995 – 1996, Principal, Mercer Management Consulting (Boston)
1993 – 1995, Director, Bridgewater Business Analysis
1986 – 1992, Manager in Corporate Finance, Kleinwort Benson
1982 – 1986, Accountant, KPMG UK (formerly KMG Thomson McLintock)

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5 Comments

  1. Oliver Stacey

    To be fair she has done a good job at Ofqual and has extensive experience in the education sector through her time at Ark. I think it is a sound appointment.