Tom Bewick, chief executive of the Federation of Awarding Bodies (FAB), will be taking a sabbatical to stand in the general election, the organisation has announced.

Former Labour councillor Mr Bewick will be standing as the Brexit Party candidate in Dagenham and Rainham. “The FAB board has agreed with Tom that for the period of the election he will stand down as CEO,” a statement from the organisation said this morning. Should he be elected, Tes  understands that he will leave FAB.

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FAB 'politically neutral'

His post will be covered by Isabel Sutcliffe as acting chief executive. Ms Sutcliffe is a former chair of the organisation and has previously held senior roles in a number of awarding organisations.

According to FAB, she has had a long career in qualifications development and quality assurance covering school, college and workplace standards-based tests and assessments. “FAB remains a politically neutral organisation,” the statement adds.