An eventual merger between the quangos for academic and for vocational education seems more likely than ever with the creation of a new committee covering both administrative worlds.
The Government said this week that members of the School Curriculum and Assessment Authority and the National Council for Vocational Qualifications will be working together. Key individuals have been appointed to both quangos and a new joint committee set up.
The merger of the two quangos is believed to be one of the main recommendations from Sir Ron Dearing in his review of 16-19 education, top be published shortly.
Two members of the SCAA, the chairman Sir Ron Dearing and Graham Mackenzie, director general of the Engineering Employers Federation, have now been appointed to the NCVQ. Sir Michael Heron, chairman at the NCVQ, takes up a reciprocal membership of the SCAA.
The new joint committee consists of these three plus, from the NCVQ: John Randall, John Barnes and John Hillier. From the SCAA the committee takes Paul Dick, chief executive Dr Nicholas Tate, and a new member, Marilyn Frampton, vice-principal of Richmond upon Thames College.
The NCVQ has six new members: Sir Ron Dearing; Graham Mackenzie; Ian McAllister, managing director of Ford UK; Rachel Totton, head of Whitby Community College; Andrew Armstrong, member of SCOTVEC; Geraint Talfan Davies, controller, BBC Wales.
