AQA is the UK’s largest provider of academic qualifications for schools and colleges, with assessments that are highly valued by employers and universities around the world. They are taught mainly in schools and colleges, and include GCSEs, A Levels, Project Qualifications, Functional Skills and the Unit Award Scheme; alongside vocational qualifications at levels 1 to 6, including apprenticeships and work-based learning, through its subsidiary TQUK; and a range of qualifications specifically designed for international British curriculum schools through its joint venture with Oxford University Press. AQA has a deep commitment to social mobility through advancing education by enabling teachers and students to realise their potential.

AQA sets and marks over half of all GCSEs and A Levels taken in the UK every year. As an independent education charity, its income is reinvested back into its educational activities. It also funds its own cutting-edge research and development, which sits at the heart of its assessments, and it supports initiatives such as helping young people facing challenges in life to realise their potential. AQA also provides support and services that enable learning: these include comprehensive support and training for teachers, Continuing Professional Development courses, and online resources to help teachers in the classroom.

AQA is focusing on an exciting strategy to move beyond pen-and-paper exams by developing and ultimately delivering digital exams. In line with its strategic aims, AQA has been actively piloting a scheme involving thousands of students taking online GCSEs, and has recently announced plans to start delivering online exams nationally from 2026.

In addition, AQA will be trialling innovative smart assessment technology which adjusts the difficulty of questions in response to students' answers. AQA also has a dedicated AQi website to advance understanding of assessment. The AQi site brings together research, insight and ideas to inform debate about the future of assessment.

You can find out more about AQA and AQi.

AQA is an equal opportunities employer and actively welcomes all sections of the community regardless of gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, age, neurodiversity, disability status, citizenship, or any other characteristic which makes people unique.

The Chair will lead the Board of Trustees, ensuring that it is effective and fulfils its responsibilities for the overall governance and strategic direction of the AQA Group (‘AQA’). The Chair will ensure that the Board as a whole is collectively responsible for maintaining the highest standards of probity and promotes the success and reputation of AQA, in accordance with its educational, charitable and business requirements.

Primary responsibilities:

• Supporting the CEO and the Board of Trustees in developing AQA’s strategy, objectives and overall policy, taking proper account of the current and future operating environment
• Working closely with the Board of Trustees and CEO in ensuring the proper implementation and monitoring of the strategy
• Providing support and counsel to the CEO and senior staff
• Taking responsibility for ensuring proper compliance with AQA’s governance procedures and meeting its responsibilities as a registered charity operating in a regulated environment
• Furthering AQA’s vision, mission and operational objectives
• Supporting the CEO and liaising with him to ensure proper oversight and direction of AQA’s activities
• Chairing the Board of Trustees, facilitating effective relationships with contributions from all members, and thereby ensuring that the Board functions effectively and discharges its duties
• Setting an agenda for the Board of Trustees as a whole which focuses on strategic matters, organisational culture, stakeholders, performance, accountability and sustainability, while evaluating and overseeing AQA and its subsidiaries, challenging the executive appropriately and also looking ahead
• Chairing meetings of the Board of Trustees, enabling AQA to benefit from the wide range of expertise among its members, and fostering an open, inclusive discussion based on trust and mutual respect
• Working closely with the governance Committee Chairs to ensure the delivery of AQA’s objectives
• Participating in the work of the governance and advisory Committees as appropriate
• Developing the capacity of the Board of Trustees to carry out its functions, overseeing the evaluation of its performance and ensuring there is proper succession planning for its membership
• Taking responsibility for decisions made by the Board of Trustees, ensuring that Trustees’ responsibilities are properly discharged and meeting legal requirements
• Representing and acting as an external ambassador for AQA and complementing the CEO’s external activities when engaging with key stakeholders, as and when appropriate
• Building strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• Ensuring that the Board of Trustees and AQA effectively manage board-level communications and working relationships.

The Chair of the Board of Trustees is expected to pay particular attention to the possibility of any conflict of interest arising from any aspect of AQA’s operations. This will include any conflict of interest for members of the Board or any senior executive.

AQA is seeking a visionary, collaborative and experienced Chair who can lead the Board and support the CEO as they seek to grow AQA’s reach and positive impact on society, both nationally and internationally.

AQA is a high-profile, complex business operating in a political and increasingly competitive environment, deriving its income from public funds and the growing diversification of its business. The successful candidate must therefore have significant chairing and non-executive experience and leadership experience gained in complex, multi-faceted organisations. They will have a strong grasp of the role of a chair and non-executive, and will have demonstrable experience of success at defining and shaping strategies and effectively supporting a CEO to implement them. Whilst this individual will likely have multi-sector experience, they should also have some experience (executive or non-executive) that shows an understanding and appreciation of education, assessment and the political / policy environment in which AQA operates.

Applicants will have excellent chairing skills and should be comfortable in guiding and influencing a range of high-achieving individuals both internally and externally. Grounded and authentic in their leadership style, the successful candidate will also have strong communication, ambassadorial and diplomacy skills. Above all, the next Chair must have a strong commitment to the social purpose of AQA.

The AQA Board of Trustees can be viewed here. 

The appointment is for a three-year term.  Reasonable pre-agreed domestic expenses will be reimbursed. Further terms (up to a maximum of three in total) could be offered, subject to agreement by both sides. The indicative time commitment is c. 20 hours per month. This will include the following: five Board meetings per year (five meetings where one tends to be full-day strategy meeting, dinner, plus half-day business meeting. The other four Board meetings are half-days), three meetings per year for the Nominations Committee (c2 hour meetings per year, often on days to coincide with Board meetings) and two meetings per year for Remuneration Committee (c1.5-hour meetings per year, on days to coincide with other meetings). It is important that the Chair can be available on an ad hoc basis to support the CEO and other Board members. The post is moderately remunerated, with reasonable pre-agreed domestic expenses reimbursed.  

Location: The AQA main offices are in Manchester, Milton Keynes, London and Guildford, and a willingness to travel and meet there is required. Most Board meetings are in London and Manchester.

AQA is committed to the safeguarding of children and adults at risk; and is dedicated to reducing the risk of employing or contracting any person intent on abusing their position of trust, along with identifying and responding to any incident of alleged abuse from its employees or associates fairly and swiftly. For more information on safeguarding at AQA please visit the AQA website.

AQA welcomes applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, belief or disability. Applications from individuals from minority backgrounds are particularly encouraged. All appointments will be made on merit, following a fair and transparent process. In line with the Equality Act 2010, however, the organisation may employ positive action where candidates from underrepresented groups can demonstrate their ability to perform the role equally well.