Governance

Syndicate

Since 1698 we have been governed by the ‘Syndics’ (originally known as the Curators), senior members of the University of Cambridge who, along with various co-optees, bring a range of subject and business expertise to the governance of Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Committees of the Syndicate meet regularly to look at publishing proposals and assessment procedures, ensuring that our content and exams meet rigorous standards, and to oversee our strategic and financial operations.

The Press & Assessment Syndicate consists of the Vice-Chancellor of our University or his/her deputy as Chair, a University Officer appointed by the Council, and at least twelve other members appointed by the Council with expertise in matters relevant to the work of the Syndicate. The powers of the Syndicate are set out in our governing document, Statute J of the University Statutes and the supporting Ordinances.

The Press & Assessment Syndicate governs our activity and exercises oversight through the Press & Assessment Board and its various committees.

Members of the Press and Assessment Syndicate who served during the year ended 31 July 2025 and up until the date of approval of these financial statements, unless otherwise stated, were as follows:

Professor Deborah Prentice (Chair), Vice-Chancellor

Mr David Parsons, Head of Legal Services: University Officer Syndic

Sir David Bell, Senior Independent Director

Professor Toke Aidt

Professor Kenneth Armstrong

Professor Amira Bennison

Professor Kasia Boddy

Ms Sally Boyle

Professor Angela Breitenbach

Professor Cathie Clarke

Dr Jessica Gardner

Professor Emily Gowers

Professor Joan Lasenby

Mr Richard Partington

Mr Ian Pryce

Ms Radhika Radhakrishnan

Mr Jonathan Scott

The Press & Assessment Board is concerned with overall governance and meets every two months.

The Press & Assessment Board discharges its responsibility for oversight of the organisation both directly and through 11 sub-committees:

• The Audit & Risk Committee provides assurance as to the integrity of the Group’s reporting processes and systems of financial governance, control and risk management.
• The Remuneration Committee is responsible for setting the remuneration of the Chief Executive and the most senior executives of Cambridge University Press & Assessment.
• The Nominations Committee is responsible for identifying and recommending the appointment of non-executive members of the Press & Assessment Board.
• The Technology Committee’s purpose is to provide a deep level of scrutiny, on behalf of the Press & Assessment Board, over investment proposals that involve technology and to monitor progress in their implementation.
• The Academic Publishing Committee approves every academic title (books and journals).
• The Academic Advisory Board ensures that sufficient input, oversight and guidance is committed to the direction of academic publishing within the organisation, feeding in advice and analysis to make the Press & Assessment Board aware of all necessary issues.
• The Online Education Committee approves any courses for inclusion in Cambridge Advance Online based on market research, assessment by our editorial team, including peer review, and consideration of the pedagogical approach and assessment against an agreed quality framework.
• The Teaching & Learning Committee approves the ‘products and propositions’ programmes of the English and Education businesses, and provides guidance and oversight of integrated learning and assessment.
• The Regulatory Compliance Committee advises both the Press & Assessment Board and the OCR Board in their capacity as the Governing Bodies for the purposes of approving annual statements of compliance in respect of the regulated activities of our exam boards.
• The Standards Committee ensures that arrangements for assessment standards are appropriate and fit for purpose.
• The Press & Assessment Chairman’s Committee is a sub-group of the Press & Assessment Board which meets with delegated authority from the Board to approve certain large-scale investments where time is of the essence.