Chair, Ofqual and Deputy Further Education Commissioner

Frances Wadsworth CBE

Biography

Frances Wadsworth CBE has served as a Deputy Further Education Commissioner since May 2018. She also served a 6 month term as Interim Further Education Commissioner in 2021.

Frances has worked in the education sector for over 30 years, holding both teaching and management roles in a number of schools and FE colleges. Her previous roles include:

·       Principal and Chief Executive of Croydon College

·       Principal and Chief Executive of East Surrey College

·       working for the British Council at the British Embassy, Washington DC

Frances also sits on the board of Ofqual, where she is the Interim Chair.

Chair, Ofqual

The chair of the board is responsible for leading the board and overseeing the governance of Ofqual.

The chair makes sure that the:

  • board’s strategic direction is carried out by the organisation
  • organisation carries out its statutory duties and responsibilities

Ofqual

Deputy Further Education Commissioner

The Deputy FE Commissioners work with FE colleges to help improve the quality and sustainability of their provision, and reduce the risk of failure. This includes:

  • providing support to colleges in intervention
  • preventing colleges from going into intervention
  • contributing to policy development for colleges in the FE sector

More information is available in the college oversight: support and intervention guide.

Further Education Commissioner

Previous roles in government

  • Interim Further Education Commissioner
  • Deputy Further Education Commissioner