Department for Education names new chair of exams watchdog Ofqual

Co-founder of healthcare intelligence firm Dr Foster to take up post in January, says the DfE


By Civil Service World

16 Dec 2016

The Department for Education has named transparency advocate and former Financial Times journalist Roger Taylor as the next chair of exams regulator Ofqual.

Ofqual is a non-ministerial department, and was set up in 2010 to regulate exams, qualifications and assessments in England.

The DfE on Friday announced that Taylor would take up post as chair of the organisation in January, succeeding Amanda Spielman, who is set become chief inspector at schools watchdog Ofsted.


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He is currently a non-executive member of Ofqual's board, and chair of the Open Public Services Network, a group that promotes independent scrutiny of public service performance data. He was also a member of the Cabinet Office's Open Data User Group advisory panel in the last parliament, helped found the healthcare intelligence firm Dr Foster, and also spent five years as a correspondent for the FT.

"Roger brings experience from a range of organisations, including Ofqual itself, where he has served as a member of the board," said education secretary Justine Greening.

"I am confident he and chief regulator Sally Collier will make a strong team."

According to Ofqual's latest annual report, the chairperson role – which has a five-year time limit – commands a salary of between £55,000 and £60,000 a year.

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