Doubts cast over US Ofsted chief

Further doubts have been cast over the potential for an educator from the United States (US) to take up the position as Ofsted chief inspector when Sir Michael Wilshaw steps down, according to reports from TES.

Reports emerged earlier this week that Education Secretary Nicky Morgan was interested in sourcing the next Ofsted chief from the US to find an experienced education reformer with a history of taking on unions.

But this idea immediately drew criticism regarding what salary and benefits could be offered to lure potential candidates from overseas.

Dave Levin, the co-founder of KIPP, a successful US charter school provider, who was considered as a front runner, has told TES that he is not interested in the position.

He said: “While it’s an honour to be associated with the search for this key position, I have not been contacted by anyone in the UK’s Department for Education regarding the head of Ofsted position and am not considering any position at Ofsted.

“I am fully committed to continuing our work at KIPP to put more students from underserved communities in the US on the path to and through college.”

This comes after Eva Moskowitz, chief executive of New York charter chain Success Academy, also told TES that she would not be interested as her work in New York was ‘far from done’.