Director of Qualifications and Skills

Before joining QCA, Mary was chief executive of the British Institute of Innkeeping. She also completed a Masters in management at the London Business School.

Mary has responsibility for the 14-19 Education Reform programme with the aim to increase attainment and participation in learning, especially post-16.

The 14-19 Education Reform programme includes the development of Functional Skills qualifications, Personal Learning and Thinking Skills and the Foundation Learning Tier together with the review of the key stage 3 curriculum and ensuring that A levels stretch and challenge all learners.

A new Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) will be introduced in 2008 enabling, for the first time, young people and adults to receive credit for successfully completing units of learning as well as whole qualifications.

The Division is also working to ensure that by 2008, in each of the country's employment sectors, there will be a coherent and rational set of qualifications that will fully meet the needs of this learners and employers.