Ofsted Board minutes: 30 October 2020
Updated 15 July 2021
Applies to England
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Present
Christine Ryan (Chair)
Laura Wyld
Martin Spencer
Amanda Spielman (HMCI)
Julie Kirkbride
Carole Stott
Kathryn August
Hamid Patel
Venessa Willms
John Hughes
Pamela Scriven
Apologies
John Cridland
Also in attendance
Matthew Coffey (Chief Operating Officer)
Chris Russell (Acting National Director, Education)
Yvette Stanley (National Director, Social Care)
Louise Grainger (Director, Finance, Planning and Commercial)
Emily Williams (Deputy Director Strategy, Governance and Private Office)
Daniel Muijs (Deputy Director, Research and Evaluation – item 11)
Briony Balsom (Head of Corporate Governance and Internal Insight – Shadowing)
Matt Terry (Corporate Governance Manager)
Lucy Mayor (Corporate Governance Officer)
Kate Dixon (Department for Education - observer)
Status
Approved. Submitted for approval at the Board meeting on 2 December 2020.
Welcome, apologies and declarations of interest
The Chair welcomed all attendees and noted apologies from John Cridland.
Carole Stott and Laura Wyld declared their membership of the Ofqual Recovery Committee.
Minutes, matters arising, action log and forward look
The minutes of the June Board meeting were agreed as an accurate record.
The formal notes of 24 and 25 August were agreed subject to one minor amendment.
Update from Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector (HMCI)
HMCI presented her update. The Board noted that:
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DfE has announced that the outstanding exemption will be lifted, so that routine inspection of outstanding schools and colleges will begin once normal inspection resumes.
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We are working with DfE to confirm plans for returning to inspection from January onwards, and are exploring various options considering current circumstances.
Ofqual and DfE have well advanced plans for a transition at the end of 2020 that will see the Ofqual Recovery Committee cease, and with it HMCI’s role as committee chair. Plans are in place to ensure most other Ofsted staff currently supporting Ofqual return full time by this date.
Ofsted will inspect level 6 and level 7 apprenticeship provision from 1 April 2021. We already inspect level 2-5 provision.
Update from the Chief Operating Officer (COO)
The COO presented his update. The Board noted that:
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Most staff deployed outside Ofsted returned on 31 August. A small number continue to support Ofqual and DHSC.
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The operating model has been adjusted to return oversight of delivery work to the COO, following his temporary role leading on emergency preparedness.
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A winter scenario planning exercise has taken place to test our emergency response processes to ensure our robustness against responding to more than one incident at any time.
Update from the National Director, Education
The interim visits programme continues, and feedback has been largely positive from the sector. The first thematic report on findings has been published and a further 2 reports will be published in November and December.
Update from the National Director, Social Care
The Regulation and Social Care directorate is now live. The Board noted the division of responsibilities between EY Education and EY Regulation.
We are getting more notifications from local authorities of serious incidents involving vulnerable infants. We continue to raise awareness and engage with authorities on this area of concern.
Update from the Director, Corporate Strategy
The Deputy Director, Private Office, Corporate Governance and Strategy presented the Corporate Strategy update. The Board noted that:
- The All Staff Conference will take place on 7 December. The event will celebrate achievements of the current strategy and engage staff in planning for the next strategic priorities. Board members will be invited to attend.
Strategic risk register
The Board reviewed the strategic risk register. The highest rated risks continue to relate to the longer-term impact of COVID-19.
Finance report
The Board noted the finance report.
Action: The outcome of the spending review will be shared with the Board once finalised.
Audit and Risk Assurance Committee update
The Committee shared the findings of the 3 internal audits issued by the Government Internal Audit Agency (GIAA) at the previous ARAC meeting. Work is under way to meet the recommendations proposed.
Annual Report update
The Annual Report launch will take place virtually on 1 December.
The Board noted minor changes to the structure for this years’ report to include protecting vulnerable children and the impact of COVID-19 on education and social care.
Online education
The Board noted a request from DfE for Ofsted to be the inspectorate for a voluntary accreditation scheme for online education providers. DfE will be the regulator of the scheme.
Recommendations for the inspection model will go to HMCI and Executive Board in November.
Action: A working group will be established with Board members on our position as inspectorate going forward.
Any other business (AOB)
None.