highperformr logo

AQA's Overview

Total employees4662
HeadquartersGuildford
Founded2000

AQA (Assessment and Qualifications Alliance) is an independent education charity and the leading provider of academic qualifications taught in schools and colleges across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. They set and mark examinations for approximately half of all GCSEs and A-levels taken in the UK. With a history rooted in established examination boards, AQA was formed in 2000 and is committed to helping students and teachers realise their potential through fair, valid, and reliable assessments. Their qualifications are highly regarded by educational institutions and employers globally.

Where is AQA's Headquarters?

HQ Function

Serves as the primary administrative and strategic hub for AQA, housing executive leadership, qualification development, finance, research, and corporate services.

Notable Features:

Modern office facilities designed to foster collaboration and support the diverse operational needs of a national awarding body. The location provides good transport links and access to a skilled workforce.

Work Culture:

A mission-driven environment focused on educational excellence, integrity, and innovation. Employees often share a commitment to supporting learners and educators, with opportunities for professional growth in the education sector.

HQ Significance:

The Guildford headquarters is central to AQA's national operations, coordinating the development and delivery of qualifications that impact millions of students annually. It represents the core of AQA's commitment to quality and fairness in assessment.

Values Reflected in HQ: The headquarters' operations and design aim to reflect AQA's core values of fairness, quality, integrity, and a commitment to learners and the education community.

Location:

While AQA's primary focus is on providing qualifications within the United Kingdom (England, Wales, and Northern Ireland), its qualifications, such as GCSEs and A-levels, are internationally recognized by universities and employers worldwide. This global recognition allows students holding AQA qualifications to pursue further education and career opportunities internationally. AQA also works with a small number of international schools that offer its qualifications.

Street Address:

Stag Hill House

City:

Guildford

State/Province:

Surrey

Country:

United Kingdom

AQA's Global Presence

Manchester, England, UK

Address: Devas Street, Manchester, M15 6EX

Serves as a key hub for AQA's operations in the North of England and complements the Guildford headquarters, providing regional support and operational capacity.

Buying Intent Signals for AQA

Highperformr Signals uncover buying intent and give you clear insights to target the right accounts at the right time — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams close more deals, faster.

Notable news
Hiring actively
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
*Example signal, not calculated in real time

Executive Team of AQA

As of April 2025, AQA' leadership includes:

Colin Hughes - Chief Executive
Mark Bedlow - Chief Operating Officer & Responsible Officer
Sandra Metcalfe - Chief Financial Officer
Alex Norman - Chief People Officer
Claire Thomson - Director of Qualifications and Standards
Rob Mvondo - Director of Product and Markets
Punam Vyas - Director of Customer & Corporate Services

Investors of AQA

AQA has been backed by several prominent investors over the years, including:

AQA is an independent education charity and is not funded by traditional investors. Its income is primarily derived from examination entry fees.

Executive New Hires/Exits in the Last 12 Months

Hire1
Exits1

Over the past year, AQA has seen a significant leadership transition with the appointment of a new Chief Executive. Mark Crozier stepped down as CEO in May 2023, with Mark Bedlow serving as Interim CEO until Colin Hughes assumed the permanent CEO role in April 2024.

Departures

Mark Crozier, Mark Crozier stepped down as Chief Executive Officer of AQA.

New Appointments:

Colin Hughes, Colin Hughes appointed as new Chief Executive Officer, effective April 2, 2024.

Technology (Tech Stack) used by AQA

Discover the tools AQA uses. Highperformr reveals the technologies powering your target accounts — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams prioritize smarter and close faster.

AQA Email Formats and Examples

While AQA does not publicly disclose its official email format structure, common patterns for organizations of its type include using the first initial followed by the last name, or first name and last name separated by a dot.

[first_initial][last_name]@aqa.org.uk or [first_name].[last_name]@aqa.org.uk

Format

chughes@aqa.org.uk (example for Colin Hughes)

Example

75%

Success rate

News and media

AQA Website NewsApril 2, 2024

AQA news title: Colin Hughes starts as new AQA Chief Executive

Colin Hughes officially began his role as AQA's new Chief Executive, succeeding Mark Bedlow who served as interim CEO. Hughes brings extensive experience from the education sector....more

AQA Website NewsApril 11, 2024

AQA news title: AQA's response to Ofqual's consultation on grading for VTQs

AQA has published its response to Ofqual's consultation regarding the approach to grading for Vocational and Technical Qualifications (VTQs) in 2024 and beyond....more

AQA Website NewsMarch 25, 2024

AQA news title: AQA comments on the Centre for Social Justice report: 'Employability and a world class Career Development System'

AQA provided commentary on a report by the Centre for Social Justice, emphasizing the importance of employability skills and career development within the education system....more

Highperformr’s free tools for company research

Explore Employees by Region or Country

See where a company’s workforce is located, by country or region.

View Funding Details

View past and recent funding rounds with amounts and investors.

Understand Revenue Insights

Understand company revenue estimates and financial scale.

Track Active Job Openings

Track active roles and hiring trends to spot growth signals.

Review Product and Offerings

Discover what a company offers—products, platforms, and solutions.

Get SIC or NAICS Codes

Get the company’s official SIC and NAICS classifications.

Analyze Website Traffic Trends

Analyze visitor volume, engagement, and top traffic sources.

Discover Social Profiles and Engagement

Explore LinkedIn, Twitter, and other active social profiles.

Identify Top Competitors

Identify top competitors based on similar business traits.

Research and Discover Companies with Highperformr — Smarter, Faster

Explore companies in depth — from the tech they use to recent funding, hiring trends, and buyer signals — all in one powerful view.

Highperformr AI helps you surface the right accounts and enrich your CRM with verified company and contact insights, so your teams can prioritize and engage faster.

  • Track intent signals to find buyers who are actively in-market
  • Enrich contacts and companies instantly, no need to switch tools
  • Automate workflows to stay ahead of every change
  • Connect your CRM & tools for seamless data sync and activation

Thousands of companies, including AQA, are just a search away.