John Randall

Biography

John Randall is chair of the Justice Sector Skills Council, the body with responsibility for skills development for the police, the courts, the prison service, the probation service, prosecution services and related voluntary organisations. He is a member of the Legal Services Consultative Panel, a lay member of the Information Tribunal, and a lay assessor for the National Clinical Assessment Authority. He is a member of the Council of the City & Guilds of London Institute, where he serves on the executive, international, and learning and assessment committees.

Since 2001, John Randall has worked as an independent consultant on higher education and professional training. He has carried out assignments for international agencies, government departments, universities and professional bodies in Hong Kong, the Philippines, Oman, Trinidad, South Africa, Chile, Jamaica and the Caribbean Community, as well as in the United Kingdom.

From 1997 to 2001, John was Chief Executive of the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education, which carried out an extensive programme of reviews of universities and colleges, and advised government on the grant of degree awarding powers and university title. He was a member of the Board of the International Network of Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education, and chaired the Network’s 2001 conference programme committee.

Prior to joining the Agency as its first Chief Executive in 1997, John was Director, Professional Standards and Development at the Law Society, with responsibility for professional regulation, and the education and training of solicitors. John served on the National Council for Vocational Qualifications from 1992 to 1997, and chaired the Council’s NVQ Policy Committee.

John’s early career was as a trade union official with the (then) Civil Service Union, where he held the post of Deputy General Secretary. After graduation in 1971, he served as President of the National Union of Students. John is a graduate of the University of York, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, and holds an honorary Doctorate in Law from the Nottingham Trent University.

Remunerated Interests

  • I receive payment as Chair of the Justice Sector Skills Council, for a commitment equivalent to two days per week.
  • I receive a fee from the International Compliance Association for serving on their Advisory Board
  • I undertake consultancy, on a self-employed basis, for professional and educational bodies in the UK, and for overseas universities, government departments and agencies.
  • I am a member of the Information Tribunal, which pays a daily fee for sittings.
  • I am a Lay Assessor for the National Clinical Assessment Authority, which pays a daily fee for assessment visits.
  • I receive a small pension from the Universities Superannuation Scheme, in respect of my previous employment as Chief Executive of the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education.

Unremunerated Interests

  • I am a member of the Legal Services Consultative Panel, appointed by the Lord Chancellor.
  • I am a member of the Council of the City & Guilds of London Institute, and I serve on the Executive, International and Learning & Assessment Committees of the Council.

Registered Shareholdings

  • I own ordinary shares in the Henderson Electric and General Investment Trust that are valued at a sum in excess of £25,000.
  • I own shares in other quoted companies and collective investment schemes, but none of these individual holdings is valued at £25,000 or more.

Ownership of Land and Property

My wife and I own jointly the property which is our sole residence.

Party Political Activity

I have been an individual member of the Labour Party for most of my adult life. Since 1997 (when I became Chief Executive of the Quality Assurance Agency) I have observed voluntarily the restrictions on political activity that apply to the senior civil service. As such, in the last seven years I have not held office in, sought election on behalf of, canvassed for, or made a recordable donation to the Party. I continue to observe those restrictions.

Other Declarations

No member of my family has any connection with the police. My wife is a civil servant in the Department of Work and Pensions, my daughter is a civil servant in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, and my son is a freelance professional musician who has regular work with a number of European orchestras.

Past interests:

  • Consultancy clients in the period 2001 to 2004 have included bodies concerned with professional education in the United Kingdom; and universities and government agencies in Hong Kong, the Philippines, Oman, South Africa, Chile and several countries within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). In addition to consultancy funded directly by the client I have undertaken projects funded by the British Council, the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Asia Development Bank.
  • From 1997 to 2001 I was Chief Executive of the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education.
  • From 1987 to 1997 I was Director, Professional Standards and Development of the Law Society of England and Wales.
  • From 1992 to 1997 I served as a member of the National Council for Vocational Qualifications, appointed by the Secretary of State.

Date of Registration

6 December 2004