7 January 2025 - The work of the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills (Ofsted) - Oral evidence

Sir Martyn took the helm of Ofsted amid widespread calls for changes to the way the organisation inspects schools, following the death of headteacher Ruth Perry in 2022. An inquest into Ms Perry’s death found that an Ofsted inspection contributed to her suicide and the Coroner’s subsequent report set out steps that Ofsted must take to prevent further such tragedies. Shortly after his appointment, the previous Education Committee also published recommendations on how the Government should reform Ofsted. 

In this session, the new Committee will scrutinise Sir Martyn’s progress in addressing the Coroner’s concerns, implementing the previous Committee’s recommendations, and responding to the inspectorate’s ownBig Listen public consultation. 

MPs will ask the HMCI about forthcoming changes such as the use of report cards instead of Ofsted’s single-word judgements from September 2025, and improving scrutiny of how schools manage to be inclusive to pupils with SEND. He will also be asked about new Government proposals for schools to receive shorter annual reviews of their safeguarding practices, and for Ofsted to gain new powers to inspect multi-academy trusts – both policies recommended by the previous Committee. 

There may be questions on changes that appear to be outstanding, such as setting a new time frame for publishing reports following the inspection of a school, and how Ofsted will ensure its inspectors have specialist knowledge of the subjects and lessons they observe.  

Sir Martyn may also face questions on Ofsted’s work to clamp down on unregistered children’s homes, and in regulating children’s social care and child protection departments in local authorities.