Chair of Ofqual Steps Down
Friday, 02 July 2010 12:48
Kathleen Tattersall, Chair of Ofqual and Chief Regulator, has announced she is stepping down from the post with immediate effect.
In a letter to the Secretary of State for Education, Michael Gove, Kathleen said: “It has been a pleasure to be part of building this organisation. None the less, it is clear that the new Government is bringing a fresh perspective to public policy, in education as in other areas.
“In that context, I have come to the conclusion that it is in the best interests both of Government and of the education sector for Ofqual to have a new Chair. I have therefore decided to step down with immediate effect.”
She went on to say “I am sad to be leaving Ofqual at this point in time. However, Ofqual will continue to have strong leadership throughout the summer and beyond. I leave behind a strong and capable chief executive in Isabel Nisbet and I am confident that she will be well supported by the Deputy Chair, Dame Sandra Burslem and the Ofqual Board.
“Equally, I am sure that I can count on you and your Ministerial colleagues to support strongly the work of the regulators which, with the awarding organisations, are working to ensure that that standards are maintained and qualifications are awarded fairly this summer to the young people for whom they mean so much. ”
Kathleen has been both Chair and Chief Regulator at Ofqual since 2008. A great deal has been achieved during this time. Ofqual has held a firm and independent line on standards during a period of extensive change in qualifications and National Curriculum assessments. Within a few months of its inception in 2008 Ofqual commissioned Lord Sutherland’s inquiry into the problems with delivery of National Curriculum tests that year.
Ofqual has made sure that new qualifications for 14-19 year olds have met the highest standards, and in the small number of cases where that was not the case, the regulator has said so publicly. Ofqual played a leading role in enabling huge numbers of vocational qualifications to be part of the Qualifications and Credit Framework, to provide a more flexible means of meeting the needs of employers. The regulator has also published ground-breaking work on the costs of the qualifications system.
At the same time, Ofqual successfully relocated from London to Coventry while maintaining an uninterrupted service. Ofqual is also working with the regulators in Wales and Northern Ireland to ensure consistency and fairness in the new A level awards this summer.
Announcing her departure Kathleen said “I wish to thank the staff and Board of Ofqual, our fellow-regulators in Wales and Northern Ireland, the awarding organisations regulated by Ofqual and all those engaged in the enterprise of providing learners of all ages with the qualifications they deserve.”
Ends
Notes to editors
1. Kathleen Tattersall's resignation letter to the Secretary of State
3. Letter of acceptance of resignation from Michael Gove MP to Kathleen Tattersall
4. For more information contact the Ofqual press office on 0300 303 3342 or 07798 924552 out of hours.
Profile
Kathleen Tattersall is a graduate of Manchester University, BA (1963), PGCE (1964), M.Ed (1975). Kathleen began her career in 1964 as a teacher, working in both primary and secondary schools before joining (in 1972) a CSE awarding body, the Associated Lancashire Schools Examining Board, as an Assistant Secretary. In 1982, following a year's secondment to the Schools Council to undertake research into differentiation (published as Schools Council Bulletin 42), she became Secretary to the Board. She moved in 1985 to the North West Regional Examinations Board as its Secretary and in 1990 was appointed Secretary to the Joint Matriculations Board. In 1992 Kathleen became the Chief Executive of the newly formed Northern Examinations and Assessment Board (NEAB). In 2000 NEAB merged with the AEB into the Assessment Qualifications Alliance (AQA). Kathleen retired as AQA's first Director General in October 2003.
Between 1983 and 2003 Kathleen chaired the national body of school examinations boards in each of their manifestations and represented the boards in discussion with Ministers, the Department and the Regulator.
In 1988 Kathleen was appointed to the board of SEAC, charged with the responsibility for the introduction of a national curriculum and better regulation of the examination system. In 2003, Kathleen was appointed to serve on the Working Party set up by the Secretary of State and chaired by Sir Mike Tomlinson to make recommendations on the curriculum and assessment arrangements for the 14-19 phase of education. She served on the Group's Assessment Committee and chaired a group of technical experts which advised the Committee.
Kathleen joined the governing Council of Manchester University in 1997 and chaired its Audit Committee until 2004 when the University merged with UMIST to form the new University of Manchester. Kathleen was appointed to the Board and continues to chair the Audit Committee. She is the appointed deputy to represent the Chair on the Committee of University Chairs (the CUC). She is also an ex-officio member of the Risk committee.
She was appointed Chair of the Chartered Institute of Educational Assessors in 2005. Kathleen was awarded an OBE in 2003 for her contribution to education and assessment.
Kathleen served as Chair of Ofqual from 8th April 2008 to 2nd July 2010.
