Sir Martyn has been selected as the preferred candidate to replace the current chief inspector, Amanda Spielman, whose term finishes at the end of December.
According to the Department for Education, he has been chosen as the preferred candidate due to his ‘successful track record and experience on the front-line of education.’
Sir Martyn, who is currently the chief executive of Outwood Grange Academies Trust (OGAT), a growing multi-academy trust in the North of England, will now be subject to a pre-appointment hearing conducted by the Education Select Committee in September.
Also a trustee of the Education Endowment Foundation and the National Institute of Teaching, he was knighted in 2022 in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for improving the education of thousands of children.
'Sir Martyn Oliver has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to driving up standards'.
Education secretary Gillian Keegan said, ‘Sir Martyn Oliver has demonstrated exemplary leadership and an unwavering commitment to driving up standards in areas of disadvantage in his time as a school and trust leader.
‘I want to sincerely thank Amanda Spielman for successfully steering Ofsted over the last seven years, introducing key reforms including hugely important new education and social care inspection frameworks.’
Sir Martyn Oliver, chief executive officer of Outwood Grange Academies Trust, commented, ‘I am deeply honoured and hugely privileged to have been recommended for this role. Subject to the pre-appointment hearing, I can promise that I will work extremely hard and very closely with the whole sector so that we can together build on what has been done to date to create the best system in all areas of education, children's services and skills for the benefit of children and young people.
‘Working with others, prioritising inclusion, and aiming for the highest standards in all areas have been key principles for Outwood Grange Academies Trust under my leadership and these would remain the case if I am appointed to the Ofsted role.’