Ofsted's external reference groups: list of members and responsibilities
Published 4 September 2024
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2024
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ofsteds-external-reference-group-members/ofsteds-external-reference-groups-list-of-members-and-responsibilities
Introduction
His Majesty’s Chief Inspector (HMCI), Sir Martyn Oliver, is committed to working with the sectors that Ofsted inspects and regulates. He has invited external stakeholders with relevant experience to be members of one of 7 external reference groups.
The 7 external reference groups are:
- Curriculum, teaching and assessment
- Behaviour and attendance
- Inclusion
- Well-being of leaders and staff
- Early years regulation and social care
- Insights and evidence (education)
- Insights and evidence (social care)
Responsibilities
The groups meet 3 times a year. Between them, they:
- discuss and challenge Ofsted’s data, research and evaluation plans
- act as expert advisors on their specialism, sharing important updates and developments
- advise on proposed developments around Ofsted’s areas of research interest, policy or practice
- support and assist with translating insights into recommendations and improvements for policy and practice
- advise on maximising impact and dissemination of our research and evaluation outputs
- inform Ofsted’s strategic priorities
- offer feedback and challenge on Ofsted’s policy work to make sure inspections raise standards in education
- advise on aspects of training relating to leader and staff well-being
- review Ofsted’s proposed developments in response to national policy on childcare or social care
- provide insights on the care standards and childcare standards to inform national policy and Ofsted’s advice on necessary changes
Curriculum, teaching and assessment external reference group
Members are:
Co-Chair: Chris Paterson, Education Endowment Fund (EEF)
Co-Chair: Lee Owston, Ofsted
Andrew Percival, Stanley Road Primary School
Chris Winch, Kings College London
Clare Sealy, States of Guernsey
Harry Kutty, Cantell School
Jeffery Quaye, Aspirations Academies Trust
Matt Hood, Oak Academy
Molly Devlin, ARK Start
Russell Hobby, Teach First
Sue Morris-King, Ofsted
Susan Pember, Holex
Behaviour and attendance external reference group
Members are:
Co-Chair: Rob Tarn, Northern Education Trust
Co-Chair: Lee Owston, Ofsted
Catherine Roper, Wiltshire Police
Helen Matthews, Ofsted
Jon Chaloner, Confederation of Schools Trusts
Sarah Clarke, National Network of Parent Carer Forums (NNPCF)
Susan Tranter, Edmonton Country School
Tom Bennett, ResearchEd/Department for Education (DfE)
Tracey Campbell, The Academy for Behaviour Leadership
Inclusion external reference group
Members are:
Co-Chair: Mark Vickers, Olive Academies
Co-Chair: Lee Owston, Ofsted
Alun Francis, Social Mobility Commission
Amanda Allard, Council for Disabled Children
Cath Murray, Ambition Institute
Jack Smith, private capacity
Jahnine Davis, Kinship Care and Family Networks Units, Department for Education (DfE)
Joe Collin, Youth Endowment Fund (YEF)
Kiran Gill, The Difference
Kirstie Fulthorpe, KLF Education
Matt Jones, Ark Globe Academy
Nigel Minns, Warwickshire County Council
Susan Douglas, Eden Academy Trust
Victor Shafiee, Ofsted
Well-being of leaders and staff external reference group
Members are:
Chair: Matthew Purves, Ofsted
Alison Peacock, Chartered College of Teaching
Ann Graham, Haringey London Borough Council
Dominic Siwoku, Department for Education (DfE)
John Young, Ofsted
Laura Fordham, Bedford Academy
Lisa Telling, Katesgrove and Southcote Primary Schools
Neil Leitch, Early Years Alliance
Peter Fonagy, Anna Freud
Polly Harrow, Kirklees College
Sarah McIntosh, Mental Health First Aid England
Sinéad Mc Brearty, Education Support
Stuart Allen, SCL Education & Training Limited
Tim Coulson, Unity Schools Partnership and Schools Wellbeing Partnership
Early years regulation and social care external reference group
Members are:
Chair: Yvette Stanley, Ofsted
Claire Dorer, National Association of Special Schools
Colum Conway, Social Work England
David Thompson, National Association of Supported Accommodation Partners (NASAP)
Harvey Gallagher, National Association of Fostering Providers
Helen Donohoe, Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years (PACEY)
Jo Fisher, Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS)
June O’Sullivan, London Early Years Foundation
Katharine Sacks-Jones, Become
Lisa Pascoe/Jayne Coward, Ofsted
Lucy Harte, Care Quality Commission (CQC)
Mark Kerr, Children’s Homes Association
Purnima Tanuku, National Day Nurseries Association
Rachel De Souza, Office of the Children’s Commissioner
Insights and evidence (education) external reference group
Members are:
Co-Chair: Tim Leunig, Public First and Onward
Co-Chair: Alex Jones, Ofsted
Carole Willis, National Foundation for Educational Research
Chris Wilson, ImpactEd Group
Emily Yeomans, Education Endowment Foundation
Ian Knowles, Department for Education (DfE)
Jo-Anne Baird, University of Oxford
John Jerrim, University College London (UCL) Institute of Education
Jon Andrews, Education Policy Institute
Josh Hillman, Nuffield Foundation
Laura McInerney, Teacher Tapp
Melanie Ehren, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Sam Freedman, Institute for Government
Simon Burgess, University of Bristol
Sue Morris-King, Ofsted
Verena Bräehler, Ofsted
Insights and evidence (social care) external reference group
Members are:
Co-Chair: Dez Holmes, Research in Practice
Co-Chair: Alex Jones, Ofsted
Carlene Firmin, Durham University
Claudia Bernard, Goldsmiths
Delphine Robineau, Department for Education (DfE)
Gail Gibbons, Youth Endowment Fund (YEF)
Gillian Ruch, Association of Professors of Social Work
James Simmonds-Read, The Children’s Society
Jason Bradbury, Ofsted
Jo Casebourne, Foundations
Leon Feinstein, Rees Centre, University of Oxford
Lisa Harker, Nuffield Family Justice Observatory (FJO)
Lisa Holmes, University of Sussex
Lisa Pascoe, Ofsted
Maria Neophytou, National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC)
Maris Stratulis, British Association of Social Workers (BASW)
Nigel Thompson, Care Quality Commission (CQC)
Rick Hood, Kingston University