Three high-profile multi-academy trust chief executives are among those understood to be in the running to be the next chief inspector of Ofsted.
Tes understands that Sir Ian Bauckham, chief executive of Tenax Schools Trust, Sir Martyn Oliver, chief executive of Outwood Grange Academies Trust, and Tim Coulson, chief executive of Unity Schools Partnership, have put their names forward for selection. There are several other candidates on the long list.
The recruitment process for a new chief inspector to succeed Amanda Spielman is currently underway and interviews are scheduled to finish next month.
However, the government’s chosen candidate for the next Ofsted chief inspector may not face scrutiny from MPs until September.
The government’s pick appears before the Commons Education Select Committee to face MPs as part of the appointment process.
Parliament rises on 20 July and Tes understands that a session with the government’s preferred candidate could possibly take place in September.
Sir Ian, Sir Martyn and Dr Coulson have declined to comment.
The process for appointing a new chief inspector comes amid massive controversy surrounding Ofsted following the death of headteacher Ruth Perry and calls for inspection reform.
The new chief inspector could also face the prospect of being less than a year into the role when a change of government occurs.
The job advert said the candidate needed “significant experience at a senior level in schools or trusts, including substantial organisational leadership skills and proven experience in leading and managing change in complex organisations”.
A trio of MAT CEOs in the running
As well as being the chief executive of the Tenax Schools Trust, Sir Ian has also been the chair of Ofqual since January 2021 and chaired the government’s market review into initial teacher training. He was knighted for his services to education last year.
Sir Martyn joined Outwood Grange Academies Trust in 2009 and was appointed as chief executive in 2016. He was also knighted for services to education in 2022.
A source close to Sir Martyn said: “I know that Martyn’s been approached by a great number of sector leaders and encouraged by them to apply for the HMCI position.
“He remains committed to leading Outwood and transforming the lives of thousands of children and young people but will always seek ways to support even more children, especially the most vulnerable in society.”
Sir Martyn was among a number of high-profile MAT chief executives who criticised the current Ofsted current inspection framework when it launched in 2019 over concerns it penalised schools focused on raising academic standards in schools serving deprived communities.
Dr Coulson has been the chief executive of Unity Schools Partnership in Suffolk since 2017. Before this, he was the government’s regional schools commissioner for the East of England and North East London. He received a CBE for services to education in 2022.
Spielman’s tenure coming to a close
Ms Spielman’s term comes to an end this year following a two-year extension, which was made following the disruption the sector faced as a result of the Covid pandemic.
She took up the role in 2017 despite MPs on the Commons Education Select Committee raising concerns about her appointment following its session with her in July 2016.
During her time in charge of Ofsted, a new schools inspection framework has been launched in September 2019, which has led to an increased focus on the curriculum - which Ms Spielman has described as the “substance of education”.
However, its implementation was hampered by the onset of the Covid pandemic in early 2020 and now the inspectorate is facing fierce criticism and calls for reform following the death of Ms Perry.
Labour’s shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson has said that, if elected, the party would start a consultation on doing away with Ofsted grades.
A Department for Education spokesperson said: “The process to hire a new HMCI is underway and we will provide an update in due course.”
