The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) is a non-ministerial government department that regulates qualifications, exams and tests in England. As a Non-ministerial department Ofqual is accountable to Parliament, through the Education Select Committee and therefore the position of Chief Regulator is subject to pre-appointment scrutiny by the Committee.
| Title | HC No. | Published | Items | Response |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Report - Appointment of Sir Ian Bauckham CBE as Chief… | HC 429 | 13 Dec 2024 | 5 | — |
The Committee held a pre-appointment hearing with the Government’s preferred candidate for the Chief Regulator of The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual), on 10 December 2024. We agree that Sir Ian Bauckham CBE is appointable to the post. Wider reflections on the role
The Committee recognises Sir Ian’s commitment to delivering the core tasks of Ofqual, namely maintaining standards and confidence in qualifications. Sir Ian’s ambition to enhance Ofqual’s reputation further to be “ever more trusted by the public and by students as the guardian of safe, fair and trustworthy qualifications” is welcome.15 …
Sir Ian’s CV details his extensive experience in schools in leadership roles.17 We note that he has made significant contributions to the education sector, as evidenced by his knighthood, received in 2023. Sir Ian’s work in national roles, within Ofqual, and in several schools illustrates his involvement in different education-focused …
The Committee questioned Sir Ian on his background, his motivations for the role, and priorities for Ofqual.20 We asked him about his work to restore stability to the organisation following the appointment of five Chief Regulators in a four-year period.21 We additionally spoke to Sir Ian about the impact of …
The Committee holds responsibility for regular scrutiny of Ofqual, in addition to other non-ministerial government departments, and we look forward to scrutinising Sir Ian’s implementation of Ofqual’s core tasks and priorities. 20 Q1, Qq7–8 21 Qq9–11 22 Qq12–28 8
| Date | Witnesses | |
|---|---|---|
| 10 Dec 2024 | Sir Ian Bauckham CBE · Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) | View ↗ |
| Date | Direction | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 7 Jan 2025 | To cttee | Letter from Secretary of State for Education on the appointment of Sir Ian Bauc… |