OFSTED Could Be Divided in Two

A report by the Education Select Committee has recommended that OFSTED should be divided in to 2 distinct inspectorates in order to provide a more specialised and focused service.

The division of labour will be between the Inspectorate for Eduaction and the Inspectorate of Children’s Care. The former would focus on nurseries, schools, colleges, adult education, teacher training and local authority commissioning of schools, while the latter would concentrate solely on children’s services and care (this would include children’s homes, adoption services, childminders and CAFCASS).

The recommendation was based on a belief that OFSTEDs current purview is too large and that the organisation has become unwieldy, making it harder to maintain a system of rigorous inspections which drive up standards for pupils.