A director at Breslin Public Policy and visiting Research Fellow at Birkbeck College, University of London, Dr Tony Breslin is a former chief examiner and qualified Ofsted inspector who has been widely published in the fields of education and participation.
“Tony brings an immense amount of experience to the IQ Board and will provide a tremendous insight on both secondary education and the needs of the charitable sector,” explained Raymond Clarke, CEO of Industry Qualifications (IQ).
IQ provides a new approach to the operation of an awarding organisation, and is approved by the qualifications regulator Ofqual. It’s a mutual awarding organisation working across a range of economic sectors and owned by its members.
The organisation values partnership and enjoys a world class reputation for the integrity of its assessment, governance procedures and relationships with its stakeholders.
“Our objective for the IQ Board has been to achieve a balance of interests, with senior and respected representation from the world of commerce, charities, colleges of further education and trade bodies,” added Clarke.
“Tony’s involvement affords IQ access to an invaluable source of expertise in both the charitable and educational sectors. Our ability to attract a person of Tony’s undoubted calibre is testimony to the IQ philosophy and approach.”
Speaking to SMT Online about his appointment to the IQ Board, Dr Breslin said: “I’m delighted to have been invited to work with IQ at such a critical phase of its development, and have been hugely impressed by the vision and commitment of the IQ team.”
He continued: “As an evangelist for a more engaging approach to education, the mutual model of awarding that is being championed by IQ is both innovative and exciting. Having had a long-term interest in secondary education in particular, I believe that far more needs to be done to raise the perceived value of professional and vocational education with young people, their parents and all who work with them.”
Dr Breslin believes that the IQ model could make a real difference by encouraging more stakeholders to play an active role in developing and increasing access to quality professional and vocational education.
“I look forward to helping IQ fulfil its medium term ambition of reaching into the secondary education sector, and playing a part in helping the organisation to understand and interface with the third sector.”
Dr Tony Breslin: the detailed CV
Dr Tony Breslin is a public policy analyst specialising in education, participation and the third sector. He’s a member of the National Community Cohesion Panel, a Trustee of Speakers Trust and a non-executive director at Arc Theatre for Change.
A former chairman of the Association for the Teaching of the Social Sciences, Dr Breslin has served as a chief examiner at GCSE Level and as a chairman of examiners at A Level.
Between September 2001 and August 2010, Dr Breslin was CEO at the Citizenship Foundation, the leading independent education and participation charity. Prior to this, he was general adviser (14-19 Education) in Enfield, North London.
A teacher by profession, he has taught and held leadership roles in schools in Haringey and Hertfordshire. He has been published and spoken widely in the UK and overseas on education and participation issues.
His latest book, entitled ‘Teachers, Schools and Change’, is to be published by Trentham early next year and follows ‘Developing Citizens’, a collection of essays co-edited with Barry Dufour and published by Hodder Education in 2006.
Alongside various colleagues, Dr Breslin is embarking on an edited collection that critically explores the concept of the Big Society from a progressive perspective. He’s also working on the establishment of a new education Think Tank and consultancy, Transform Education, as well as a practitioner network entitled The Creative Forum.