Corporate report

Ofsted Board minutes: 26 February 2025

Updated 28 July 2025

Applies to England

Present

Christine Ryan (Chair)

Martyn Oliver (HMCI)

Felicity Gillespie

Martin Spencer

Chris Hanvey

Carole Stott

Laura Wyld

Jo Moran

Jon Yates

Hamid Patel

Frank Young

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

David Meyer

Juliet Chua (Director General, Schools Group, Department for Education) 

Department for Education Observer   

Alex Marsh (Director of Schools Systems, Academies and Reform, Department for Education)

Also in attendance   

Principal Private Secretary to HMCI, Head of Private Office (items 4 to 11) 

Mark Leech, Deputy Director, Communications (item 5)

Head of Strategy Delivery (items 6 and 7) 

Strategic Priorities Risks and Compliance Lead (items 6 and 7) 

Head of Strategic Priorities (item 7) 

Senior Strategy Analyst (item 7)

Kate Warburton, Deputy Director, Legal Services (item 8) 

Executive support   

Board Secretary

1. Welcome, apologies and declarations of interest   

The minutes of the last meeting were approved as a correct record. 

Laura Wyld declared a new interest as a member of the House of Lords Public Services Select Committee.

Frank Young declared that Parentkind, of which he is Director of Policy and Research, would be hosting HMCI to deliver a speech later this month on working with parents.

2. Actions and matters arising

All actions from the December meeting were closed. Two further actions remain ongoing.

3. Actions taken by the Chair

The board was updated on the second challenge session attended by the Chair to scrutinise delivery of actions committed to in the Big Listen response (including Ofsted’s response to Dame Christine Gilbert’s review). Of 132 actions, 54 have now been delivered and the remainder are on track. The Chair also reviewed and commented on the second Big Listen action monitoring report ahead of its publication in early March.

The board noted that progress has been made on the development of the corporate governance framework, and that a draft would be discussed at the meeting.

4. HMCI update

The board received an update from HMCI, which included:

• performance and progress against strategic objectives agreed with the Chair  
• update on the education inspection improvement consultation launch
• plans for social care inspection improvement (as set out in the Big Listen response)
• ongoing work on the Spending Review
• summary of HMCI’s appearance at the Education Select Committee
• current progress of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill

HMCI expressed his admiration for the work of the executive and teams across Ofsted in the period since last board meeting, highlighting the significant progress made in the above areas. The board echoed this sentiment and remarked on the quality of the information provided in this update.

The board noted that Laura Wyld had recused herself from preparation for HMCI’s Education Select Committee hearing and of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill.

5. Inspection improvement update

The board discussed media appearances by HMCI to support the consultation launch, and ongoing engagement with key stakeholders in the education sectors, and parents.

The board were updated on the methodology for analysing responses to the consultation. The board noted that all consultation responses will be included in the analysis, and that AI will be used to support initial high-level analysis of responses before analysis by Ofsted research and insights colleagues.

The board discussed initial testing of the proposed framework and the early-stage feedback heard so far. Discussion took place around the themes of what was being heard and the initial thoughts on any changes that might come about in the consultation response. It was noted that Ofsted would wait for the consultation to close before making final response suggestions.  The board also noted that leaders involved in the initial testing had the opportunity to meet with the National Director, Education to share their experiences: the vast majority of which were positive. Similarly, test inspector feedback was considered and noted. Again, significant positives and anticipated challenges to inspection methodology were discussed. The board noted that this testing would continue throughout the consultation period and that the findings, along with responses to the consultation, would feed into development of improved inspection instruments.

The board agreed to the proposed approach and timeline for their engagement on drafting the consultation response, once the consultation has closed.

6. Report from Audit and Risk Assurance Committee (ARAC), including strategic risk update

The Chair of ARAC updated the board on activity at the last meeting. The board discussed the status of strategic risks and information on mitigating actions. The board approved the rating of strategic risks on the register, as well as the risk tolerance levels which were set by ARAC at their meeting of 21 January.

The board thanked Ofsted colleagues for their work to improve both the clarity of strategic risk reporting to the board and risk management practice and policy. The board requested that deadlines be provided for all mitigating actions for next report.

7. Strategy update

The board were updated on progress to develop a new Ofsted strategy and gave feedback on the initial drafting of strategic goals and priorities. The board clarified that these would link directly to HMCI’s strategic objectives, and the objectives of senior leaders across Ofsted.

The board agreed they were happy to provide additional input outside of the board meeting to help develop the strategy.

The board noted the progress made against actions committed to in the Big Listen response, since last update at the December board meeting. The board approved the draft second Big Listen action monitoring report for publication.

8. Corporate governance framework development

The board were updated on work done by the corporate governance framework working group to progress this since the last meeting. The board discussed the draft framework developed by the working group (including HMCI and members of the executive). The board members in the working group recommended that the board approve the draft framework. The board approved the framework in principle, pending engagement and formal approval by the incoming chair, upon their appointment. 

9. Finance update

The board noted the period 9 forecast. The board were updated on business planning for the coming financial year, as well as ongoing work on phase 2 of the spending review including zero-based reviews and budget challenge sessions. The board thanked Jon Yates for his contribution to the zero-based review session.

The Department for Education (DfE) observer, commented on the positive joint working between Ofsted and the DfE on the spending review, and stated the DfE’s support for Ofsted’s bids. HMCI noted that we had been advised by His Majesty’s Treasury (HMT) that any bid would need to be supported and referred to by the DfE in their response too. The DfE observer acknowledged this.

10. Safeguarding group update

The board were updated about progress on work on learning reviews, including improvements to learning review processes. The board noted that improved governance arrangements had been implemented with regard to learning reviews. Progress of actions emerging from learning reviews are now monitored centrally rather than regionally, allowing for greater oversight by Deputy HMCI and accountability for action owners. The appointment of a National Director, Delivery who works closely with the National Director, Regulation and Social Care has facilitated more robust and structured monitoring of learning reviews.

The board discussed the ongoing need for improved digital systems to support regulatory work and progress towards obtaining these. The board discussed the interim arrangements in place to improve the tracking of regulatory casework, as delivered by the Insights and Research Directorate.

The board noted that the Ofsted Academy will deliver centralised commissioning of training and improved measuring of the impact of training for the regulatory remits. The role of hubs in improving quality assurance and standardisation across remits was also discussed.

The board requested further opportunities to discuss safeguarding practice and learning reviews.

11. Any other business

HMCI and senior board member Sir Hamid Patel and the DfE observer thanked the board chair and commented on the positive impact that she had had on the organisation throughout her tenure as Ofsted board chair.