Lesley Davies OBE, principal of Trafford College, has been appointed to the board of Ofqual, the Department for Education announced today.

The college boss, who has worked in education for 25 years and is a former deputy chief executive of the Association of Colleges, is one of five new board members at the qualifications watchdog. The others are Ian Bauckham CBE, chief executive of Tenax Schools Trust; Dr Jo Saxton, chief executive of Turner Schools; Major General Rob Nitsch CBE, the British Army’s personnel director and Delroy Beverley, executive director of Nottingham City Homes.

Ofqual ‘delighted’

Roger Taylor, chair of Ofqual, said: “I am delighted to welcome Delroy, Ian, Jo, Lesley and Robert to the Ofqual Board. The diversity of their experience and combined knowledge will greatly benefit Ofqual in its important work in ensuring qualifications in England are of the highest standard.”

Ms Davies commented: “I am delighted to have been appointed to the board of Ofqual at a time of significant qualification reform and look forward to contributing to its work.”

She will be paid £6,000 a year for up to 20 days’ work as Ofqual board member and will take up the role in April.

The news of her appointment comes just a day after Trafford College was admitted to the Chartered Institution for Further Education. The college was granted chartered status for having “demonstrated the maintenance of high-quality standards and providing good teaching and learning over a sustained period of time,” according to Dan Wright, the institution’s chief executive.

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