Dating & Relationship status

In 2018, Spielman supported a primary school headteacher’s right to set a uniform policy that did not permit hijab for pupils in Key Stage 1 (ages 4–7). The UK’s National Education Union (NEU) exclaimed this was “naked racism dressed up as liberalism”.

In December 2018, Spielman asserted that basic parenting duties should not be outsourced to schools and teachers: for instance, potty training was “a normal part of parenting in every other country” and it was “startling” that any British parents could allow their children to continue wearing nappies for years.

Amanda Mary Victoria Spielman, MA ACA serves as HM Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills since January 2017.

In June 2016, Spielman was selected by Education Secretary, Nicky Morgan, to take over as Chief Inspector of Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills (Ofsted) to replace Sir Michael Wilshaw. Following a pre-appointment hearing, Spielman’s nomination was rejected by the Education Select Committee which expressed concerns about her suitability, citing her lack of teaching experience and her failure to show “passion” and supposed lack of understanding for the “complex role”. Mrs Morgan, however, dismissed such objections and in her capacity as Cabinet minister wrote to Neil Carmichael, the Committee’s chairman, confirming her appointment of Mrs Spielman.

She joined the senior leadership team at Ark Schools in 2005 but has never taught a class of children in her life. From 2011 to 2016, Spielman was Chair of the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual).

From 2005 onwards Spielman was a founding member of the management team at Ark Schools. From 2011 to 2016 she chaired Ofqual, the examinations and qualifications regulator.

After pursuing further studies in Comparative Education at the Institute of Education, University of London, she received a Master of Arts degree in 2002.

She became a principal at Mercer Management Consulting in Boston, Massachusetts from 1995 to 1997, then at Nomura Principal Finance from 1997 to 2004.

Her first marriage, in 1983 ended in Separation from spouse. She married secondly, in 1996, Adam Justin Spielman MBA, managing director at Citigroup, whose relations include banking families such as the Cohens and Sebag-Montefiores. They live in London and have two children.

Brought up in the Christian faith and educated first at Notre Dame Primary School in Glasgow, before boarding in Dorset from the age of ten, she joined St Paul’s Girls’ School’s sixth form. She then went to Clare College, Cambridge, to read Mathematics and Law, graduating as BA in 1982.

With KMG Thomson McLintock from 1982 to 1986 and then Kleinwort Benson from 1986 to 1992, she served as a director of Newstead Capital from 1992 until 1994 and of Bridgewater Business Analysis from 1994 to 1995.