AQA is the UK’s largest provider of academic qualifications for schools and colleges, with assessments that are highly valued by employers and universities around the world. They are taught mainly in schools and colleges, and include GCSEs, A Levels, Project Qualifications, Functional Skills and the Unit Award Scheme, alongside a range of qualifications specifically designed for international British curriculum schools through a joint venture with Oxford University Press.

AQA sets and marks over half of all GCSEs and A Levels taken in the UK every year. As an independent education charity, its income is reinvested back into charitable activities. It also funds its own cutting-edge research, which sits at the heart of its assessments, and it supports initiatives such as helping young people facing challenges in life to realise their potential. AQA also provides support and services that enable learning: these include comprehensive support and training for teachers, Continuing Professional Development courses, and online resources to help teachers in the classroom.

AQA is focusing on an exciting strategy to move beyond pen-and-paper exams by developing and ultimately delivering digital exams. In line with its strategic aims, AQA is about to begin a pilot scheme involving thousands of students taking online GCSEs. In addition, AQA will be trialling innovative smart assessment technology that adjusts the difficulty of questions in response to students' answers. AQA has also recently launched its AQi website to advance understanding of assessment. The AQi site brings together research, insight and ideas to inform debate about the future of assessment.

You can find out more about AQA here and AQI here.

AQA seeks up to four outstanding individuals to join its Board as Trustees for up to three years initially, to work with the executive team and help shape its organisational strategy and achieve its educational and charitable goals. These opportunities arise as a result of some current Trustees reaching the natural end of their full terms of office, as well as new skills being sought to complement the current Trustees’ experience.

Trustees, both as a group and as individuals, are responsible for the overall governance and strategic direction of the organisation, its financial health, the probity of its activities as a charity and limited company, and the development of its aims and objectives, in accordance with AQA’s governing document and within legal and regulatory guidelines. Trustees act as advocates for AQA’s work and speak up for it publicly when appropriate.

AQA would like to appoint Trustees who will bring senior leadership experience along with new perspectives and a range of experience and backgrounds. Candidates will advise the Board in their areas of expertise as well as bringing diversity of thought. They will have experience in one or more of the leadership roles and areas of expertise described below:

School Leader: AQA is seeking a headteacher or senior leader likely to be from a large, state school, to help replace the expertise and experience provided by current Trustees about to step down.  

University Leader: AQA is seeking a senior leader in a university setting who has either academic or management experience (or both). Experience of digital assessment and development would be beneficial.

Business Growth: AQA is seeking individuals with strong business and commercial acumen. This Trustee will have experience in business growth through diversification, joint ventures and/  or partnerships. They will be able to contribute effectively to the development of innovative commercial strategy.

People Leadership and Reward: AQA is seeking additional experience to build on best management practice for people, salaries and reward.  

Legal and Regulatory Compliance: AQA is seeking additional legal expertise and experience of operating within corporate law, charity law and highly-regulated environments.

Charity Leadership: AQA is seeking individuals with experience of running and overseeing a charity of a similar complexity, together with knowledge of the opportunities and challenges this presents.

International and Digital Assessment: AQA is also interested in hearing from candidates who have experience of delivering assessments internationally across different cultures and digitally.

Everyone has the potential to achieve, so AQA makes sure that its qualifications give all students (irrespective of background) the opportunity to show what they can do and progress to the next stage of their lives. All Trustees should be aligned with this purpose, as well as having a deep belief in the transformative impact of education and the importance of making it accessible for all.

AQA is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community regardless of gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, age, neurodiversity, disability status, citizenship, or any other aspect that makes people unique.

AQA is committed to the safeguarding of children and adults at risk; and is dedicated to reducing the risk of employing or contracting any person intent on abusing their position of trust, along with identifying and responding to any incident of alleged abuse from its employees or associates fairly and swiftly. For more information on safeguarding at AQA please visit the AQA website.

Terms of appointment

These Trustee roles are unremunerated; reasonable, pre-agreed domestic travel expenses will be reimbursed. The Board meets five times per year, and each of its sub-committees meets three to five times per year. Board meetings are currently held in a hybrid manner through a mix of in-person and virtual meetings. Trustees are expected to join at least one sub-committee, and are also invited to engage with executive team members on specific ideas and projects, and to attend AQA events. Appointments are generally for three years in the first instance, which may be extended by mutual agreement for a further term.