AQA appoints Dame Joan McVittie as independent chair of malpractice committee

Published: Friday 27 Aug 2021

Exam board and education charity AQA has appointed former head teacher Dame Joan McVittie as the new independent chair of its malpractice committee.

The committee makes decisions on the most serious cases of malpractice by candidates and school and college staff, and Dame Joan becomes the first external and independent appointment to chair the committee.

Dame Joan has spent her career in teaching, latterly as head teacher in North-East London schools – Leytonstone School, Waltham Forest, and then Woodside High, Haringey. She has also taken on many other public and charitable roles to help improve education. Though now retired she remains a Trustee of the Association of School and College Leaders, and of the Education & Employers Taskforce, and an educational consultant. She was made a Dame in 2013 for turning around struggling schools and contributing to education at a national level.

Louisa Fyans, AQA’s head of exams integrity and inspection, said of Dame Joan’s appointment:

“We’re delighted that Dame Joan has taken on this role and what she’ll bring with her insightful background and experience.

“It’s vital to everyone that we protect the integrity of the exam system, and through Dame Joan’s appointment teachers can be confident that their voice is integral and at the heart of all we do.”

Speaking of her appointment, Dame Joan said:

“I feel very privileged to take on this important role and to have the opportunity to work with AQA’s highly experienced committee.”

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