Amanda Spielman

Amanda Spielman (born 22 May 1961) has been HM Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills from January 2017.^[1]

Spielman was educated at Clare College, Cambridge and the Institute of Education, University of London.^[2]

She was with KMG Thomson McLintock from 1982 to 1986 then Kleinwort Benson from 1986 to 1992. She was Director of Newstead Capital from 1992 to 1994 then of Bridgewater Business Analysis from 1994 to 1995. She was Principal of Mercer Management Consulting, Boston from 1995 to 1997 and then Nomura Principal Finance from 1997 to 2004.

From 2005 onwards she was part of the founding management team at the Ark chain of academy schools^[3][4][5] and chair of Ofqual from 2011 to 2016.

In June 2016, Spielman was selected by Education Secretary Nicky Morgan to take over as chief inspector of schools and children's services in England, to replace Sir Michael Wilshaw. Following a pre-appointment hearing, Spielman's nomination was rejected by the Education Select Committee which expressed concerns about her suitability, citing her lack of teaching experience and her failure to show "passion" and supposed failure to show understanding of the "complex role".^[6] However their objections were overridden by the minister who wrote to the Select Committee chair dismissing their arguments and confirming her intention to appoint Spielman. ^[7] Two blogs supported the minister's action. ^{[8] [9]}

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