Sir Ian Bauckham CBE has been announced to take over as chief regulator at Ofqual when current chief Dr Jo Saxton leaves at the end of the year.
Currently Ofqual chair, Sir Ian will take up the 12-month interim chief regulator role from 1 January 2024 following Dr Saxton’s departure to become Ucas chief executive.
The move will see him stand down as chair of Ofqual, which he has served as since January 2021. Sir Ian has been on the Ofqual board since March 2018 and is chair of Oak National Academy.
The public appointments process for a substantive chief regulator will start soon, Ofqual said today, adding that it will also announce the appointment of an interim chair to replace Sir Ian in “due course”.
Sir Ian said it was an honour to take up the chief regulator role. He will also stand down from his post as CEO of Tenax Schools Academy Trust as he becomes interim chief regulator.
Sir Ian added: “Qualifications, supported by regulation, open doors and transform life chances for students. I will be pleased to build on the existing working relationships I have with colleagues both within Ofqual and across the sector in this new capacity.
“I look forward to continuing Jo’s good work, and am fully committed to using Ofqual’s powers to regulate on behalf of students and apprentices.”
Sir Ian had previously been understood to be one of three high-profile academy trust chief executives in the running to become Ofsted chief inspector before Sir Martyn Oliver was announced as Amanda Spielman’s replacement in July.
Education secretary Gillian Keegan said: “Sir Ian’s experience will be invaluable as Ofqual continues to ensure our current qualifications work effectively, alongside playing a vital role in the development of our new Advanced British Standard.
“I’d like to thank Jo for guiding Ofqual through the challenges that followed the pandemic and ultimately overseeing a smooth return to exams and normal grading.”
The 2023 exams marked the end of a process to return from pandemic grading to normal grading. Dr Saxton told Tes the process of returning to normal grading for GCSEs and A levels was “done” after the 2023 results.
