Exams

Ian Bauckham made permanent chair of Ofqual

Academy trust boss has been exams regulator's interim chair for a year

Academy trust boss has been exams regulator's interim chair for a year

Academy trust boss Ian Bauckham has been appointed as permanent chair of Ofqual, the exams regulator has announced.

Bauckham, CEO of the Tenax Schools Trust, has been the organisation’s interim chair for the past year, succeeding Roger Taylor who stepped down last December.

He will begin a three-year term as its permanent chair from next month.

Education secretary Nadhim Zahawi said Bauckham’s “extensive experience” of the education and qualifications system “means he is the ideal person to guide Ofqual through the critical work ahead”.

Ofqual
Pleased Zahawi

Bauckham said he was “very pleased” to continue the role as Ofqual aims to “act in the interests” of all those taking qualifications.

It follows the appointment of former academy trust boss and government adviser Jo Saxton as chief regulator in September. 

Saxton said students can be “confident we have the leadership we need for the years ahead”.

Ofqual is also looking for up to six new “high calibre” board members. The recruitment round will fill vacancies as some existing members’ three-year terms come to an end.

New board members will be tasked with overseeing the return of exams next year and the future challenges of returning to 2019 grading standards.

The Department for Education, which makes the appointments, said it is looking for “experienced, strategic, pragmatic and collaborative” people who are “comfortable working in a rapidly changing policy environment”.

Board members are entitled to up to £6,000 remuneration a year and applications close on January 10. The board is required by legislation to have between seven and 12 members. It currently has 11.

Latest education roles from

Chief Education Officer (Deputy CEO)

Chief Education Officer (Deputy CEO)

Romero Catholic Academy Trust

Director of Academy Finance and Operations

Director of Academy Finance and Operations

Ormiston Academies Trust

Principal & Chief Executive

Principal & Chief Executive

Truro & Penwith College

Group Director of Marketing, Communications & External Engagement

Group Director of Marketing, Communications & External Engagement

London & South East Education Group

Sponsored posts

Sponsored post

AI Safety: From DfE Guidance to Classroom Confidence

Darren Coxon, edtech consultant and AI education specialist, working with The National College, explores the DfE’s expectations for AI...

SWAdvertorial
Sponsored post

How accurate spend information is helping schools identify savings

One the biggest issues schools face when it comes to saving money on everyday purchases is a lack of...

SWAdvertorial
Sponsored post

Building Character, Increasing Engagement and Growing Leaders: A Whole School Approach

Research increasingly shows that character education is just as important as academic achievement in shaping pupils’ long-term success. Studies...

SWAdvertorial
Sponsored post

Educators launch national AI framework to guide schools and colleges

More than 250 schools and colleges across the UK have already enrolled in AiEd Certified, a new certification framework...

SWAdvertorial

More from this theme

Exams

Exams: Try rest breaks before asking for extra time, schools told 

New JCQ guidance says supervised rest breaks 'often more effective and appropriate' than extra exam time

Ruth Lucas
Exams

Poorer pupils do better in more disadvantaged schools, report says

Researchers also find worst-performing areas for disadvantaged kids likely to have more poor white youngsters

Jack Dyson
Exams

WJEC exam board fined £350k after wrong food GCSE results

Ofqual to issue WJEC with six-figure penalty after 1,527 food preparation and nutrition GCSE pupils received incorrect results

Jack Dyson
Exams

Schools ‘over a barrel’ as exam fees rise again

Cost of exams will increase at a greater rate than school funding in 2026, with some provided by AQA...

Freddie Whittaker

Your thoughts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *