ED BALLS ANNOUNCES CHAIR OF THE QUALIFICATIONS AND CURRICULUM AUTHORITY
17 Sep 2008 04:28 PM
The Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, Ed Balls, today confirmed the appointment of Christopher Trinick as the Chair of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA). The appointment takes effect from 1 November 2008 for 3 years.
It is intended that Chris Trinick will become the first Chair of the Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency (QCDA) which, subject to Parliamentary approval, will be established when the qualifications regulator is put onto a statutory footing.
Ed Balls said:
“I would like to thank Sir Anthony Greener for his commitment and dedication to the QCA over the last six years. I am delighted that Chris Trinick has agreed to bring to the leadership of the QCA his considerable talent in leading public sector organisations through major change and reform. His experience will be invaluable, as we introduce legislation to transform the QCA into a new agency - the QCDA.”
Chris Trinick said:
“It is a privilege to take over the Chair of the QCA from Sir Anthony Greener. I will work with him to ensure a smooth transition. I look forward to working with both the officials and the Board members at a key point in the development of the QCA as it evolves into a development agency providing the key source of expertise on curriculum, assessment and qualifications. The QCA will have a renewed task, a new location in Coventry and a new name – the QCDA - to reflect its important role.”
Editor's Notes
This press notice relates to 'England'
1. Chris Trinick succeeds Sir Anthony Greener, who has been Chair of the QCA since October 2002 and whose term of office ends in October 2008. The Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA) Code of Practice stipulates that all public appointments to bodies such as QCA will normally be restricted to two terms.
2. Chris Trinick was Chief Executive of Lancashire County Council until May 2008. His appointment as Chair of QCA will commence on 1 November 2008 and run for three years to 31 October 2011. The time commitment for the post is three days a week. Remuneration of £60,000 per annum will be paid through the QCA.
3. In Confidence in Standards: Regulating and developing qualifications and assessment (Cm 7281) (December 2007) the Secretaries of State for Children, Schools and Families and for Innovation, Universities and Skills announced and consulted on plans for reforming the regulation of qualification and tests in England by legislating to set up a separate independent Office of the Qualifications and Examinations Regulator (Ofqual), with QCA becoming a Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency (QCDA). As the new QCA Chair, Chris Trinick will play a crucial role in leading the development of QCA into the new agency.
4. QCA was set up under the Education Act 1997 as a non-departmental public body appointed by, and accountable to, the Secretary of State. All appointments and re-appointments to the QCA Board are made by the Secretary of State. The other members of the QCA Board are:
Richard Greenhalgh (Deputy Chair)
Professor Michael Arthur
Mike Beasley CBE
Ian Ferguson CBE
Maggie Galliers
Cynthia Hall
Sue Kirkham
Sir James Rose
David Sherlock CBE
Nick Stuart CB
Sir David Watson
Kathleen Tattersall OBE (Chair of the interim Ofqual)
Dr Ken Boston AO (Chief Executive and ex-officio member)
5. The appointment has been made in accordance with the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA) Code of Practice. All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees’ political activity (if any declared) to be made public. No political activity has been declared by Chris Trinick.
Profile of Chair of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority
Chris Trinick is an experienced public administrator. He began his professional life as a teacher. After eight years, he entered educational administration with the London Borough of Ealing, subsequently serving in Bradford and Salford before being appointed as Director of Education in Solihull in 1991. Five years later he became Chief Education Officer for Lancashire County Council (LCC). From 2001 he led LCC’s change programme in response to the Local Government Act 2000 and was appointed Chief Executive in 2002. He retired from LCC in 2008 having led it to four star status (Audit Commission). On retirement Chris was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Lancashire.
During his 37 year career Chris has served on the boards of a Training and Enterprise Council, Excellence North West, Foundation for Information Technology in Local Government and, from 2001 to 2007, the Adult Learning Inspectorate. He was the Treasurer of the Society of Education Officers from 1997 to 2002. He is a current member of the Ofsted Board.
Contact Details
Public Enquiries 0870 000 2288, info@dcsf.gsi.gov.uk