By Gavin Mackintosh-
Dr. Jo Saxton, the Chief Regulator of Ofqual, will be stepping down from her role at the end of December 2023, after two years in the post.
Dr. Saxton, (pictured)a former Ofqual board member and education policy adviser, has been in her position since September 2021, has overseen the challenging return of exams for GCSEs and A levels after the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Her tenure also included the reinstatement of pre-pandemic grading, a move aimed at restoring the currency and value of grades indefinitely.
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One of Dr. Saxton’s significant achievements during her time as Chief Regulator was the introduction of a new Level 3 results deadline and awarding process. This change ensured that vocational qualifications were delivered on time in the summer of 2023, addressing the significant delays experienced by students in the previous year. This reform is set to become a permanent feature of the qualifications system.
While Dr. Saxton has championed these initiatives and emphasized the importance of putting students at the center of her work, questions remains about the efficacy of the exam regulator in terms of its oversight.
The issue of grade boundaries with GCSE students has remained a contentious issue, especially in light of inadequate training and preparation of many GCSE students in the years leading up to their GCSE exams.
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The official explanation for grade boundaries has routinely been the level of difficulty of exams, a stance criticized by many university lecturers and teachers who believe examiners ought to be well placed to determine the right level of exams.
The prevalence of idle state school students in the years leading up to their GCSE’s questions the extent to which pupils are adequately trained for tough exam questions that justify annual grade boundaries.
When Saxton took up the post i 2021, she said: “I believe in the power of education to transform life chances, which is why I’m so passionate about qualifications.
“As chief regulator, pupils and students will be at the heart of every decision we make at Ofqual: their best interests will be my compass.
However, The Eye Of Media.Com has discovered that thousands of students from several schools are not allowed to take their text or class books home to study, often leaving them idle, as they resort to gadgets and time wasting throughout the year leading up to the penultimate years of their GCSE exams.
There has also been the disturbing case of a mathematics prodigy who was denied his place at Oxford University due to missing exam papers. No sufficient explanation has yet been given to explain this blunder, although Ofqual say it is looking into it.
This incident has highlighted the importance of robust systems and procedures within the education regulatory framework.
While Dr Saxton has been a central figure in navigating the education system through the complexities and uncertainties brought about by the pandemic, there is still a lot of work to be done to make Ofqual’s standard of oversight in the education arena as a whole.
In response to her resignation, Dr. Saxton stated, “It is a significant honor to hold public office, and I take my duties and commitments to students of all ages extremely seriously. Throughout my time at Ofqual, I promised that students would be my compass, and that promise remains intact.”
She expressed her pride in the achievements made during her tenure, including the return to exams and pre-pandemic grading. Dr. Saxton also highlighted her commitment to parity in vocational qualifications, emphasizing that delays in receiving these qualifications in the past had been rectified.
As Dr. Saxton prepares to transition to her new role as Chief Executive of UCAS in January 2024, the education sector will be closely watching for her successor at Ofqual. The challenges facing the incoming Chief Regulator will be considerable, including the need for greater transparency, addressing exam-related issues, and ensuring fairness and accuracy in grading.
The Secretary of State for Education, Gillian Keegan, expressed gratitude to Dr. Saxton for her leadership during the pandemic and looked forward to continuing to work with her in her new role at UCAS.
An interim Chief Regulator will be confirmed in due course as the organization seeks to build on Dr. Saxton’s legacy while addressing ongoing concerns.
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