Ian Bauckham has been appointed as the permanent chair of exams regulator Ofqual by education secretary Nadhim Zahawi.
Mr Bauckham, who has served as interim chair of the regulator during the implementation of teacher-assessed GCSE and A level grading earlier this year, will start his three-year permanent position in the new year.
He was appointed to the interim role in January 2021 following the resignation of former chair Roger Taylor at the end of 2020.
Mr Taylor left the regulator after what he described as a “difficult summer” when centre-assessed grades were awarded after the government U-turned on the use of Ofqual’s algorithm to award GCSE and A level grades.
Mr Bauckham, chief executive and director of the Tenax Schools Trust, has also chaired the government’s Initial Teacher Training (ITT) market review this year.
In May, Mr Bauckham told teachers that when awarding teacher-assessed grades they must not “test, test, test” pupils with multiple mock exams, and also cautioned them to grade “dispassionately”.
Education secretary Nadhim Zahawi said: “I am pleased that Ian will be taking on the role of Ofqual chair permanently.
“His extensive experience of the education and qualifications systems means he is the ideal person to guide Ofqual through the critical work ahead.”
Mr Bauckham said: “I am very pleased to have the opportunity to continue as chair of Ofqual. Our aim is to act in the interests of all those taking qualifications and apprenticeships.”
He added that it was “a privilege to be able to work with a team so focused on this priority”.
Jo Saxton, Ofqual’s chief regulator, said: “I welcome the appointment of a chair with such a wide range of experience across the education sector.
“Students of all ages can be confident that we have the leadership we need for the years ahead. I very much look forward to continuing to work with Ian in the new year.”
Mr Bauckham is also chair of online classroom Oak National Academy and has been a member of the Ofqual board since March 2018 and a member of the Ofqual Standards Advisory Group since 2015.
