Amanda Spielman

Amanda Spielman (born May 1961) has been chair of Ofqual since 2011. From 2005 onwards she was part of the founding management team at the Ark chain of academy schools.^[1][2][3] In June 2016, Spielman was selected by Education Secretary Nicky Morgan to take over as chief inspector of schools and children's services in England, to replace Sir Michael Wilshaw. Following a pre-appointment hearing, Spielman's nomination was rejected by the Education Select Committee which expressed concerns about her suitability, citing her lack of teaching experience and her failure to show "passion" and supposed failure to show understanding of the "complex role".^[4] However their objections were overridden by the minister who wrote to the Select Committee chair dismissing their arguments and confirming her intention to appoint Spielman. ^[5] A number of teacher and headteacher bloggers supported the minister's action. ^{[6] [7]}