Guidance

Apply to be an external expert with Ofqual

Find out what the role of an external expert involves and how to apply. Information for current experts on renewing your contract or adding additional skills.

Published 29 March 2018
Last updated 2 October 2019 — see all updates
From:
Ofqual
Applies to:
England

Are you looking for a new challenge? Would you like to add to your CV?

We are looking for people to join us as external experts to help our work on qualifications and assessments for GCSEs, A levels, a wide range of vocational and technical qualifications and new apprenticeship end-point assessments.

External experts are invaluable to the work we do to ensure the qualifications we regulate are fit for purpose – making sure they assess the right things, in a consistent way, and can be trusted.

Who can be an external expert?

Become an expert for Ofqual

We are looking for people from a wide range of different backgrounds.

You might:

  • be a teacher, practitioner, assessor, examiner or an academic
  • have extensive skills and experience in a particular industry

Please read our Terms and Conditions (PDF, 376KB, 21 pages) for full details of the role.

How we make use of your expertise

There are lots of ways we might ask you to contribute. For example, we might ask you to:

  • comment on the content of qualifications and the quality of their assessments
  • provide specialist opinion, professional insight or industry expertise on a specific theme
  • become involved in large scale projects where qualifications are being developed, or respond to ad hoc queries
  • contribute to research projects

To see who is currently advising us, please download Ofqual's list of external experts (ODS, 45.9KB)

Why should I apply?

This is a great opportunity to:

  • use your professional expertise to help shape and improve the education system
  • be involved in crucial pieces of work that will benefit learners
  • gain an insight into how qualifications are regulated
  • be a representative for your subject or industry

Will I be paid?

You will be paid for any expertise you provide.

How to apply?

Before applying, make sure you read the Terms and Conditions (PDF, 376KB, 21 pages) , the Person specification and eligibility criteria - external experts (PDF, 213KB, 7 pages) , External experts fact sheet (PDF, 84.8KB, 3 pages) , the Stages of the recruitment process (PDF, 46.9KB, 1 page) and the Privacy statement (PDF, 115KB, 4 pages) .

To apply please complete the new applicant form on the External Expert Gateway. We recommend that you use Google Chrome to access the external expert gateway.

The application process is open all year round, but we sometimes highlight specific subjects and sectors where we are particularly looking for external experts.

We are currently looking for experts with experience in the following areas. These experts may be asked to work on specific assignments which may include reviewing and commenting on apprenticeship end point assessments.

Clicking on the area of expertise will show you the apprenticeship standard for that area.

To see the full list of apprenticeship end point assessments in which we are involved, see the confirmed Ofqual quality-assured apprenticeship end point assessments.

Current experts

Renewing your contract

If you have received an email notification inviting you to renew your contract, please contact us at experts@ofqual.gov.uk for more information.

Adding additional skills

If you would like to add additional skills, experience, or acquired knowledge in a field of work or subject, to your original application, please complete the additional expertise form by logging on to the External Expert Gateway. We recommend that you use Google Chrome to access the external expert gateway.

If you have any questions please contact us at experts@ofqual.gov.uk for further information.

Published 29 March 2018
Last updated 2 October 2019 + show all updates
  1. Updated the person specification and factsheet.
  2. List of external experts updated.
  3. List of external experts updated.
  4. List of external experts updated.
  5. List of external experts updated.
  6. List of external experts updated.
  7. List of external experts updated.
  8. List of external experts updated.
  9. List of external experts updated.
  10. Updated external experts fact sheet and stages of recruitment document.
  11. List of external experts updated.
  12. Changed details of the type of experts we are looking to recruit.
  13. List of external experts updated.
  14. List of external experts updated.
  15. List of external experts updated
  16. Terms and conditions updated
  17. List of current subject experts updated.
  18. List of subject experts updated.
  19. List of current subject experts updated.
  20. Areas of expertise updated to include teaching assistant, learning mentor and senior healthcare support worker. List of current subject experts updated.
  21. Updated video link and reordered documentation.
  22. Updated list of external subject experts.
  23. Updated list of external subject experts.
  24. Updated list of subject experts.
  25. Updated Ofqual's external experts list
  26. Updated list of subject experts provided; list of required expertise revised to add recruitment roles and remove BSL and trade suppliers.
  27. Added a video explaining the work of an expert, a factsheet and a promotional leaflet.
  28. Added a list of specialisms where we are currently looking to recruit experts.
  29. Updated person specification added and changes made to how we make use of your expertise.
  30. Updated list of external experts added
  31. Updated terms and conditions
  32. Update to attached terms and conditions. Schedule 2e updated to state our obligation to publish details of any contract over £10k. Minor typos fixed.
  33. Updated list of experts
  34. Updated terms and conditions added.
  35. Updated the list of experts.
  36. Added revised terms and conditions doc
  37. First published.
Contents

Related content