Phase two consultation: Estyn’s inspection arrangements from September 2021
This is the second in a series of consultations about how inspection can best support schools and other providers to manage the many changes taking place in education.
Between 2020 and 2024 we plan to make changes to our work:
• in the transition year 2020-2021 we propose to pause our school inspections so that inspectors can work with schools on the curriculum changes. (Phase one)
• in September 2021 we propose to amend our inspection arrangements, to align with the changes to education in Wales. (Phase two)
• before 2024 we will also pilot inspections that focus on validating schools’ self-improvement processes. (Phase three)
At each stage we will work with you to shape our plans. During summer 2019 we asked you about what we should do to support schools during the transition year. In this consultation we ask for your views on our inspection arrangements from September 2021.
Context
In 2017 we introduced new inspection arrangements. At the same time, and in the context of ambitious education reforms, Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector commissioned an independent review of school inspection in Wales. The review’s report ‘A Learning Inspectorate’ was published in June 2018. It makes a series of recommendations on how we might adapt our work to contribute constructively to education reform. This consultation is part of our response to ‘A Learning Inspectorate’, focusing specifically on our inspection arrangements.
What’s in scope?
This consultation relates to the following sectors:
- primary schools, including nursery schools
- secondary schools
- all-age schools
- special schools
- pupils referral units
- independent schools
Non-maintained nursery settings, initial teacher education, Welsh for Adults and local authorities are not included, though the feedback may also inform future inspection arrangements in those sectors.
Further education colleges, Adult Learning and work-based learning providers will have a separate consultation during 2020.
Some aspects of what and how we inspect are legal requirements. Any changes to these aspects would take a little longer and be subject to further consultation.