 | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1992 |
| Type | Non-ministerial government department |
| Jurisdiction | England |
| Employees | 1,275 |
| Annual budget | £168 million (2013–14) & £130 million (2018–2019)[1] |
| Agency executives |
|
| Parent department | Department for Education |
| Website | gov |
The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted) is a non-ministerial department of His Majesty's government, reporting to Parliament. Ofsted's role is to make sure that organisations providing education, training and childcare services in England do so to a high standard for children and students. Ofsted is responsible for inspecting a range of educational institutions, including state schools and some independent schools. It also inspects childcare, adoption and fostering agencies and initial teacher training, and regulates early years childcare facilities and children's social care services.[2]
The chief inspector ("HMCI") is appointed by an Order in Council and thus becomes an office holder under the Crown. Sir Martyn Oliver has been HMCI since 2024[update]; since August 2020[update] the chair of Ofsted has been Christine Ryan: her predecessors include Julius Weinberg and David Hoare.[3]
Ofsted publish reports on the quality of education and management at a particular school and organisation on a regular basis. His Majesty's Inspectors (HMI) rank schools based on information gathered in inspections which they undertake. An Ofsted section 5 inspection is called a 'full report' and administered under section 5 of the 2005 Education Act, while a monitoring visit is conducted under the authority given by section 8 of the 2005 Education Act and can also be called an Ofsted section 8 inspection.
- ^ "Ofsted annual report and accounts: 2013/14 onwards". Ofsted. 18 July 2019. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
- ^ Ofsted. "About us". GOV.UK. Archived from the original on 10 June 2016. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
- ^ "Ofsted boss in Isle of Wight row quits". BBC News. 23 August 2016. Archived from the original on 26 August 2016. Retrieved 26 August 2016.