Education Act 2005

Education Act 2005

2005 CHAPTER 18

Commentary

Part 1: School Inspections and Other Inspections by School Inspectors

Chapter 1 – School Inspectors and School Inspections: England

Schedule 1: Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Schools in England

23. Schedule 1 to SIA 1996 is re-enacted with changes, giving the Chief Inspector the authority to appoint staff in addition to HMI. The Chief Inspector may also arrange for additional inspectors to assist him in carrying out his functions. Paragraph 5 of Schedule 1 to the Act provides that, subject to the following exceptions, any of the functions of the Chief Inspector under this Act or any other Act may be fulfilled by: any HMI; any other member of his staff; or any additional inspector. The exceptions are that a report concluding that special measures are required must be personally authorised by the Chief Inspector or an HMI specifically authorised to do so and that an additional inspector cannot take part in an inspection unsupervised by an HMI unless he has previously conducted an inspection to the satisfaction of an HMI.

24. The Schedule also provides that the Secretary of State will determine the remuneration and pension of the Chief Inspector, with the approval of the Minister for the Civil Service.

25. Paragraph 2 provides for the appointment of additional inspectors to assist the Chief Inspector, as at present. Additional inspectors with specific skills or knowledge for a particular setting will continue to be used. In addition, the Chief Inspector will use additional inspectors to fulfil his duties under section 5. Where the Chief Inspector engages additional inspectors either directly or through an inspection service provider he must ensure that they have the necessary qualifications, experience and skills. He will fulfil this duty by publishing a statement of the qualifications and experience, standards and skills which such additional inspectors are required to have and shall ensure that any arrangements he makes with inspection service providers require that they ensure that additional inspectors meet the published requirements. Where using an inspection service provider he must also publish a list of names given to him by the inspection service provider of persons who may be used in future as additional inspectors. This will lead to an increase in the use of additional inspectors.