Ofsted Board minutes: 7 December 2022
Updated 12 May 2023
Applies to England
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Present
Christine Ryan (Chair)
Hamid Patel
Amanda Spielman (HM Chief Inspector (HMCI))
Felicity Gillespie
David Meyer
Jo Moran
Jon Yates
Frank Young
Carole Stott
Executive attendance
Matthew Coffey (Chief Operating Officer)
Louise Grainger (Director, Finance, Planning and Commercial)
Chris Jones (Director, Strategy and Engagement)
Alex Jones (Director, Insights and Research)
Lee Owston (Acting National Director, Education)
Yvette Stanley (National Director, Regulation and Social Care)
Observer
Andrew McCully (Department for Education (DfE)) (observer)
Also in attendance
Emily Williams (Deputy Director, Strategy, Governance and Private Office) (items 7, 8, 9)
Head of Strategy (items 7 & 9)
Strategy Officer (item 7)
Executive support
Board Secretary and Corporate Governance Team Leader
Corporate Governance Officer
Status
Approved at the board meeting on 15 February 2023
Welcome, apologies and declarations of interest
Apologies were received from Chris Hanvey, Martin Spencer and Laura Wyld who was on jury service.
HMCI declared that she has been appointed to the Civic Futures Advisory Board.
Minutes, matters arising and action log
The minutes of the last board meeting were agreed as a correct record.
Board effectiveness: Action plan progress
The board reviewed progress against the board effectiveness action plan. It was noted that the corporate governance framework annexes were being updated following feedback at the September board meeting and would be circulated to board members for sign off.
The board discussed progress against the action related to the review of strategic priorities, objectives and agreement of key milestones. It was agreed that feedback will be provided to the strategy team to enhance the effectiveness of strategic dashboard.
Discussion with the Executive
Since the board last met a new set of ministers at DfE have been confirmed in post. HMCI has had initial meetings with the Secretary of State and all junior ministers. Recent ministerial changes mean slower than expected progress on policy priorities and much of the planned legislative from government, including the Schools Bill is now not going forward.
DfE’s position on the future direction of trust inspection is still unknown. We will continue to build on our understanding of an increasingly diverse multi academy trust (MAT) sector. This will inform the development of multi academy trust summary evaluations (MAT SEs) and a potential long-term move to inspection.
The board was updated on preparations to register supported accommodation providers in April 2023 and discussed the Care Review and recently published commentary on inspection outcomes for previously exempt outstanding schools reinspected in 2021/22.
Finance report
The financial position at the end of period 7 (October 2022) was presented to the board.
Audit and risk assurance committee (ARAC) verbal update
ARAC met on 15 November, and it was the first meeting for board members Chris Hanvey and Jo Moran.
Delivery of the internal audit plan is on track and due to be completed by March 2023. The high-level timetable for the production of the Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23 was approved and the committee will meet in December to review the draft external audit plan.
Deep dive: Strategic priority: Keeping pace
The board reviewed progress with the implementation of the strategic priority, ‘keeping pace’ with sector changes. Most actions are at the scoping or early implementation stage as we are 6 months into the five-year strategy.
The board discussed how the education, training and care sectors have changed over recent years, the future direction of MAT inspection and the impact of the political and economic climate on legislative and policy changes needed to keep pace with sector changes.
Strategy dashboard
The strategic dashboard will be discussed at the next board meeting.
Action: Strategy team to engage with board members Hamid Patel and Jon Yates before the next board meeting and explore further improvements to the strategic dashboard.
Strategic risk
The board reviewed the strategic risk register and discussed the risks that emerge in the external environment, including industrial action, power shortages and winter weather. A planning group has been convened to test business continuity plans against various scenarios.
The Board development day in January will include a session on risk appetite and tolerance as it relates to Ofsted’s key risks.
AOB
There was no other business.