Corporate report

Ofsted's external reference groups: list of members and responsibilities

Published 4 September 2024

Applies to England

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

Jeffrey Quaye, Aspirations Academy 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

Amanda Allard, National Children’s Bureau (NCB)

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

Joe Collin, Youth Endowment Fund (YEF)

Kiran Gill, The Difference

Kirstie Fulthorpe, KLF Education

Matt Jones, Ark Globe Academy

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

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

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

Lee Elliot Major, University of Exeter

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