Education: Head of exam regulator stands down

Kathleen Tattersall, chair of Ofqual, said she was stepping down "with immediate effect".

In a resignation letter to Education Secretary Michael Gove, Ms Tattersall said it was "clear that the Government is bringing a fresh perspective to public policy, in education as in other areas".

With this in mind, she wrote, she had concluded it was "in the best interests both of Government and of the education sector for Ofqual to have a new chair".

Accepting Ms Tattersall's resignation, Mr Gove said she had made a "significant contribution" to establishing Ofqual as an independent regulator.

He has said he wants the body to be set up in a similar way to Ofsted, the school's inspectorate.

Mr Gove wrote: "I have signalled to you my wish to strengthen the position and independence of Ofqual further through making the chief regulator a full-time crown appointment with executive responsibility for Ofqual.

"I intend to bring forward legislation to this effect in the autumn."

Ms Tattersall was appointed chair when Ofqual was created three years ago. The regulator was established after the last Government decided to break up the then Qualifications and Curriculum Agency (QCA) and hand responsibility for regulation and standards to a separate statutory body.