News story

Post of chief schools adjudicator to be advertised

Michael Gove announces an open competition to replace Dr Ian Craig as Chief Schools Adjudicator in October 2011.

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

The Secretary of State today announced that he will launch an open competition to appoint a new chief schools adjudicator to replace Dr Ian Craig.

Dr Craig’s contract is due to expire in April 2012 and he and the Secretary of State have agreed it makes sense for his successor to take over in October this year to give them time to get up to speed ahead of the new admissions process.

As a result Dr Craig’s contract will end this autumn and the process will begin to find his successor.

Dr Ian Craig said:

I would like to place on record my thanks to the Secretary of State and his Ministerial team who have shown me considerable support since they took office.

I would also like to take this opportunity to express my thanks to my team of fellow adjudicators and the officials in the Office of Schools Adjudicator, who have worked so hard and so professionally to ensure that the admissions system is as fair as we can possible make it.

With a new admissions process coming into force in 2012, I feel the time is right for a new chief adjudicator to take on the role. It has been my privilege to have held this post and I look forward to a smooth transition to my successor.

Education Secretary Michael Gove said:

I would like to place on record my deep appreciation for the rigour and hard work, as well as the professionalism and diligence that Dr Craig has brought to this post. With the implementation of a new slimmer Code and Admissions Framework, subject to the passage of the Education Bill, we both agree the time is right to appoint a new adjudicator.

Following discussions with Dr Craig, I am today announcing that we will shortly launch an open competition to appoint a new Chief Adjudicator. Dr Craig’s current contract was due to end in March 2012, but we have mutually agreed that it will be more appropriate for his contract to finish, with effect from 1 November 2011, following the delivery of his annual report.

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Published 10 March 2011