Ofsted Board minutes: 22 June 2022
Updated 12 May 2023
Applies to England
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Present
Christine Ryan (Chair)
Amanda Spielman (HMCI)
Julie Kirkbride
Hamid Patel
Martin Spencer
Carole Stott
Venessa Willms
Laura Wyld
Also in attendance
Matthew Coffey (Chief Operating Officer)
Chris Russell (National Director, Education)
Yvette Stanley (National Director, Social Care)
Chris Jones (Director, Strategy and Engagement)
Alex Jones (Director, Insights and Research)
Louise Grainger (Director, Finance, Planning and Commercial)
Board Secretary & Corporate Governance Team Leader
Corporate Governance Officer
Department for Education (DfE) - observer
Emily Williams (Deputy Director, Strategy, Governance and Private Office) (item 7)
Head of Strategy (item 7)
Senior Strategy Analyst (item 7)
Status
Approved at the board meeting on 28 September 2022.
Welcome, apologies and declarations of interest
The chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and apologies were noted from John Cridland.
It was noted that this was Venessa Willms and Julie Kirkbride’s last board meeting, as their terms come to an end, and they step down in July 2022. The chair and board thanked them for their input and contribution to the board and Ofsted over the years.
Minutes, matters arising and action log
The minutes of the April board meeting were agreed as a correct record with one amendment. One action remains open in relation to the format of board meetings.
Action: Board views will be sought on whether the decision to alternate meetings between in-person and virtual should continue.
Board effectiveness review
The chair introduced a draft paper on the board effectiveness review for discussion. The paper provided a collation of outputs from the review process, including observations and findings from the independent reviewer, interviews with members, the board secretary’s notes from the workshop, and comments from the executive.
The board reviewed the paper and provided feedback for subsequent drafting of the recommendations and action plan.
The chair thanked members for their feedback and outlined the next steps.
Action: Taking account of comments from the board, the chair, senior board member and HMCI to agree a final note of the interactive board effectiveness review and produce a draft action plan.
Action: Secretariat to circulate an action plan based on the review’s recommendations via correspondence for board feedback.
Annual reports and accounts (ARA) 2021-22
The board reviewed the annual report and accounts 2021-22 and noted the timetable for laying the ARA before Parliament.
The audit and risk assurance committee (ARAC) was thanked for scrutiny of the drafts at the various drafting stages. The chair of ARAC confirmed that the committee had agreed at its meeting on 15 June to advise the board to recommend that HMCI certify the accounts.
The board recommended that HMCI certify the accounts.
Audit and Risk Assurance Committee Annual report
The chair of ARAC presented the ARAC annual report, which details the activities of the committee during the financial year 2021-22.
Throughout 2021-22, there had been some notable changes including:
- new external auditors Ernst and Young were appointed in September 2021
- Ian Looker was appointed as the new co-opted member of ARAC in February 2022.
- ARAC commissioned deep dives into safeguarding in social care and cyber security
The committee found these to be extremely valuable, enabling a more detailed understanding of Ofsted’s strategic and operational risks in each area.
The chair of ARAC reported that for the third consecutive year, internal auditors provided a substantial opinion. Ofsted staff were commended for this significant achievement.
The chair of ARAC thanked former ARAC members Venessa Willms and Julie Kirkbride, for their valuable input and contributions to the committee.
Strategy Dashboard
The board reviewed the strategy dashboard, which included baseline data on the strategic metrics.
Members discussed how performance against indicators will be presented in the dashboard. The board was assured that it will be kept informed of trends once more data is collected, and the RAG rating will be based on implementation challenges. The dashboard will indicate whether we are on track to deliver the actions for specific priorities.
HMCI update
HMCI provided an update on significant events as stipulated in her paper and discussed in detail at the board private session.
Chief Operating Officer update
The board was briefed on the government’s commission for all departments to draw up indicative proposals for reducing civil service headcount.
Discussions with the Executive
The board expressed support for the review of the strategic risk register to ensure that it aligns with the new strategy. The chair of the board and chair of ARAC emphasised the importance of mapping the new register to our risk appetite. The new strategic risk register will be brought to ARAC on 14 September and the board on 28 September.
It was suggested that a deep dive into Ofsted’s work in teacher training and development, and ITE inspections, at a future board meeting would be valuable.
Action: Board to consider a deep dive into teacher training and development at a future meeting.
The evaluation of the Education Inspection Framework (EIF) will include a significant programme of activity that will span the next few years and include several strands of work. The evaluation of the EIF is a key objective of Ofsted’s strategy, and the board was assured that it will be briefed on progress at various points in the evaluation programme.
Action: An update on the evaluation of the EIF to be presented at a future board meeting.
The chair requested that future Insights and Research Directorate updates includes the objectives for each research report as this will help clarify the board’s thinking.
Action:Director, Insights and Research to include research report objectives in the update to the board.
AOB
The chair clarified that the format and length of future board meetings will be captured as part of the work on board effectiveness. Future ways of working will be considered when the new board members are appointed.