The education secretary has named Amanda Spielman as the preferred candidate to head up Ofsted.
Nicky Morgan has recommended Ms Spielman for the post of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills at Ofsted for “her impressive breadth of experience across the education sector and her proven commitment to raising standards for children and young people”.
Ms Morgan said: “From helping to set up one of the country’s top academy chains, to acting as a council member for the Institute of Education, to overseeing our ambitious qualification reform programme, Amanda has extensive experience at the frontline of the education system, making her uniquely qualified to take up this important role.
“I know that she is the right person to deliver the education white paper’s commitment to continue to improve the quality and consistency of Ofsted’s inspections, ensuring that it plays a central role in realising our vision of educational excellence everywhere,” she added.
Ms Spielman, a chartered accountant, co-founded ARK schools, one of the most successful academy chains in the country. Since 2011, she has been chair of the exam board regulator Ofqual. Having led that regulator through a period of change, Ms Spielman has been recommended to lead Ofsted through the next steps of inspection reform outlined in the education white paper.
The Secretary of State has now asked Neil Carmichael MP, Chair of the Education Select Committee, to arrange for the committee to meet Ms Spielman, and will consider the committee’s conclusions before deciding whether to proceed with the appointment by seeking Privy Council agreement.
If the appointment goes ahead, Ms Spielman will take over from Sir Michael Wilshaw who was appointed Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills on 1 January 2012.
