Ofsted Board minutes: 25 June 2025
Updated 24 September 2025
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2025
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Present
Sir Hamid Patel (interim Ofsted Board Chair)
Martyn Oliver (HMCI)
Jon Yates
Carole Stott
David Meyer
Chris Hanvey
Frank Young (online)
Jo Moran
Laura Wyld
Martin Spencer
Executive attendance
Matthew Coffey (Deputy HMCI) (items 4 to 11)
Louise Grainger (Chief Financial Officer) (items 4 to 11)
Rory Gribbell (Director, Strategy and Engagement) (items 4 to 11)
Alex Jones (Director, Insights and Research) (items 4 to 11)
Lee Owston (National Director, Education) (items 4 to 11)
Yvette Stanley (National Director, Regulation and Social Care) (items 4 to 11)
Apologies
Felicity Gillespie
Juliet Chua (Director General, Schools Group, Department for Education (DfE))
Department for Education Observer
Lorna Howarth (Deputy Director, Teaching Workforce Strategy, Department for Education)
Also in attendance
Principal Private Secretary to HMCI, Head of Private Office
Owen Davies, Deputy Director, Legal Services (item 4)
Senior Legal Adviser (item 4)
Head of Strategy Delivery (items 7 and 9)
Strategic Priorities Risks and Compliance Lead (items 7 and 9)
Head of Strategic Priorities (item 9)
Jansy Kelly, Deputy Director, Social Care and Regulatory Practice (online, item 11)
Principal Officer, Safeguarding (online, item 11)
Executive support
Board Secretary
Corporate Governance Officer
Status
Approved at the board meeting on 17 September 2025.
1. Welcome, apologies and declarations of interest
The board noted Carole Stott, Chris Hanvey and Frank Young’s term will come to an end on 31 July.
The board noted Dame Christine Gilbert’s first board meeting will be September.
The minutes of the last meeting were approved as a correct record.
2. Actions and matters arising
Fifteen open actions were closed. Eight actions remain open.
The board noted that Jo Moran has volunteered to join the children’s homes registrations working group, as a representative of the board.
3. Actions taken by the chair
The board noted that the chair and HMCI continue to regularly discuss development of draft inspection materials through fortnightly catch-up meetings. The chair will update the board on this matter.
4. HMCI update
The board received an update from HMCI, which included:
- current progress on Ofsted’s witness statement to the COVID inquiry and an update on an ongoing legal case
- summary of HMCI’s recent speeches and engagements with Ministers across government and meetings with DfE officials
- recent media and sector engagement by HMCI
The board noted that HMCI’s objectives are agreed with the board chair and taken from the themes of Ofsted’s Strategy. HMCI will provide the board with progress against objectives at future board meetings and welcomed the board’s feedback on an ongoing basis.
The board noted the update on inspecting local authority children’s services (ILACS) reform to be discussed at the next board meeting following further discussions with DfE.
The board noted that Dame Christine Gilbert’s term as board chair begins in September 2025 at which point her induction will commence. Additionally, it was noted that Dame Christine Gilbert has requested a change to the December meeting date and will work with the board Secretary to set dates for the remainder of the year.
5. Finance update
The board noted the period one forecast for 2025-26, and that this would be further impacted by inspection plans from autumn 2025 and the Civil Service pay award.
The board discussed the increase in children’s homes applications and the impact on maintaining pace with these applications. The board noted that this was discussed in detail at the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee (ARAC). The board noted mitigating actions to address this, including the establishment of a working group led by National Director, Delivery. DHMCI requested that a board member be included as part of the group. It was agreed that Jo Moran would join the group.
The board discussed the Spending Review settlement and agreed that the outcome was excellent and reflected the government’s confidence in Ofsted’s work. The board noted that the settlement will support delivery of key strategic priorities, as well as the government’s mission: Breaking Down Barriers to Opportunity. The board congratulated Ofsted colleagues for the result, especially the Finance team for their positive feedback received from His Majesty’s Treasury.
6. Annual Report and Accounts
The board reviewed the final draft of the Annual Report and Accounts and agreed that ARAC’s feedback has been appropriately addressed.
The board accepted ARAC’s recommendation that HMCI approve the Annual Report and Accounts subject to receiving the data regarding senior civil servant (SCS) pensions from MyCSP.
7. Report from Audit and Risk Assurance Committee, including strategic risk update
ARAC chair Martin Spencer updated the board on activity from the last ARAC meeting held on 19 June.
The board discussed the status of the strategic risk register as well as the risk tolerance levels and agreed that the risks captured are appropriately aligned with Ofsted’s strategic priorities.
The board approved the current strategic risk register.
8. Inspection improvement update
The board was updated on sector engagement by HMCI and SCS regarding proposed changes to education inspection. The board discussed draft inspection materials, provisional testing of proposed changes, and plans for piloting.
The board noted that final decisions on Ofsted’s consultation response regarding the revised framework will be made by HMCI on 5 September 2025, and that all interim decisions in relation to the framework are therefore subject to change.
The board was updated on the development of the draft report card design, including extensive user testing and noted positive feedback on the draft designs from parents and carers, in particular. The board discussed the proposed designs in depth.
The board discussed plans for measuring and ensuring consistency of inspection delivery under new inspection frameworks.
9. Strategy update
The board was asked to provide written feedback on the equalities objectives.
The board was updated on continued progress of the Big Listen action monitoring report, including progress against delivery of actions. The board approved the document for publication.
10. Safeguarding group update
The board was updated on the criteria for commissioning Safeguarding Learning reviews, and how the Safeguarding Group oversees actions to improve safeguarding practice. The board discussed the governance arrangements for ensuring that learning from learning reviews is embedded systemically through Directors’ Monthly Meetings, Executive Committee, DHMCI oversight, and the board.
11. Any other business
The chair and HMCI expressed their sincere appreciation to the departing members for their valuable contributions to the Ofsted Board.