Corporate report

Ofsted Board minutes: 30 April 2025

Updated 28 July 2025

Applies to England

Present

Sir Hamid Patel (Chair)

Martyn Oliver (HMCI)

Jon Yates

Carole Stott

David Meyer

Chris Hanvey (online)

Frank Young

Jo Moran

Executive attendance

Matthew Coffey (Deputy HMCI) (items 4 to 10)

Louise Grainger (Chief Financial Officer) (items 4 to 10) 

Rory Gribbell (Director, Strategy and Engagement) (items 4 to 10) 

Alex Jones (Director, Insights and Research) (items 4 to 10)

Lee Owston (National Director, Education) (items 4 to 10)

Yvette Stanley (National Director, Regulation and Social Care) (items 4 to 10)

Apologies

Laura Wyld

Martin Spencer

Felicity Gillespie

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

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 (items 4 to 10) 

Mark Leech, Deputy Director, Communications (item 4)

Head of Strategy Delivery (items 6 and 7) 

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

Senior Strategy Analyst (items 6 and 7)

Head of Strategic Priorities (items 5 and 7) 

Jansy Kelly, Deputy Director, Social Care and Regulatory Practice (online, item 9)

Executive support

Board Secretary

Status

Approved at the Board meeting on 25 June 2025.

1. Welcome, apologies and declarations of interest

The minutes of the last meeting were approved as a correct record with 2 minor amendments.

2. Actions and matters arising

All actions from the February meeting were closed. Three further actions remain ongoing.

3. Actions taken by the Chair

The board noted Carole Stott’s second term will come to an end in July 2025 and June will be her last meeting.

The board noted all appraisal meetings with the board Chair for members have been scheduled.

The Department for Education (DfE) confirmed that newly appointed Chair is expected to be in place by September 2025, following appointments made in summer.

The board noted the draft Annual Report and Accounts has been shared with the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee (ARAC) for feedback.

4. HMCI update

The board received an update from HMCI, which included:

• current progress on Ofsted’s witness statement to the COVID-19 inquiry
• summary of HMCI’s recent speeches and engagements with ministers across government and meetings with DfE officials
• recent media engagement
• office relocations
• progress on inspection improvement

The board noted that Deputy HMCI (DHMCI) is the signatory and lead witness for Ofsted for the COVID-19 inquiry, in liaison with its legal team. A timely response will be provided, and the board will be updated accordingly.

The board discussed potential opportunities to deploy artificial intelligence (AI) across Ofsted.

The board noted that the new organisational strategy will be brought to the board for decision in September 2025 (see item 7 for full discussion of this item). HMCI’s objectives will align with the strategy and will be agreed with the Chair.

The board was informed that the public consultation on improving education inspections had recently closed. Over 6,000 responses have been received and detailed analysis is continuing. High-level, emerging findings were discussed, including key feedback themes and what these may mean in terms of updated inspection materials. The board also discussed its recent and planned communications activity on inspection reform.

5. Inspection improvement update

The board received an update on the consultation findings so far. High-level and emerging findings were broken down into 6 themes: grading, reporting​, evaluation areas, the clarity and distinction between secure and strong standards, inspection methodology​, and the impact of proposed changes on inspector and sector workload and well-being. The board also received an overview of respondent feedback.

The board was updated on the findings of YouGov commissioned research and the early plans for responding to the consultation.

The board was updated on the progress of test visits and plans for further tests (pre-consultation response) and pilot inspections (post-consultation response).

The board discussed the progress made in developing toolkits and operating guides.

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

ARAC member Jo Moran updated the board on activity from the last ARAC meeting held on 20 March. The board discussed the status of the strategic risk register and agreed that the risks captured are appropriately aligned with Ofsted’s strategic priorities. The board noted that ARAC had scrutinised the strategic risk register at the last meeting. Board members expressed their support for a strategic risk summary ‘heat map’ to be presented at future meetings to support discussion and welcomed having access to a live, full risk register for additional scrutiny. 

The board discussed and supported HMCI’s decision to appoint the Government Internal Audit Agency (GIAA) as Ofsted’s internal auditor for 2026–27. The board approved a letter to the CEO of GIAA to confirm this.

The board approved the current strategic risk register.

7. Strategy update

The board was updated on continued progress to develop a new Ofsted strategy and drafting of the third Big Listen action monitoring report ahead of planned publication in early May.

The board discussed opportunities for capturing the parent voice.

The board approved the high-level draft strategic priorities for internal publication in May 2025.

The board endorsed the updates to the accompanying narrative, particularly the focus on outcomes for the most disadvantaged children and supported the direction of travel for the strategy. The board noted that the full strategy will be presented for approval in September 2025.

The board provided feedback on the draft third Big Listen action monitoring report, which sets out progress against delivery of actions committed to in the Big Listen and approved the report for publication. The board noted that the external reference groups had been educative and valuable to the executive. The board approved the Big Listen action monitoring report.

8. Finance update

The board noted the period 12 forecast for 2024–25 and were updated on the agreed measures for budget monitoring in 2025–26.

The board acknowledged Ofsted will receive a readout from HM Treasury on the decision about Spending Review bids.

9. Safeguarding group update

The board received an update on the progress of work related to learning reviews, including the improved safeguarding review process and agreed methodology. The board discussed the Learning Review Oversight Group’s role in overseeing the quality of learning reviews, feeding into DHMCI’s Directors meeting to improve system-level/Ofsted-wide learning. The board noted that improvements to the process have enabled more robust and structured monitoring of the learning review process.

The board clarified the role of legal colleagues within the process, noting that Legal Services were represented at the Safeguarding Group and the Learning Review Oversight Group. The board noted how transparency and accountability were ensured in the process, including clarity on roles and timing and how the process contributes to valuable learning by identifying the core issues, outlining the plan for addressing them and ensuring effective delivery of the action plan. The board noted the ongoing role of board member Felicity Gillespie in ensuring accountability for delivery of action plans through her membership of the safeguarding group.

The board noted ongoing work with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) on settings jointly inspected with the CQC through a joint panel. This consists of members from both Ofsted and the CQC to discuss providers delivering complex models of care and to recommend appropriate routes for their registration. The board will be kept updated on this work.

10. Any other business

There was no other business.