After more than a decade being accountable only to Parliament, David Bell, the chief inspector, is to get his own board of governors.
Ofsted is due to take over responsibility for a wide range of children’s services which have their own inspectorates.
As part of the changes, set out in a government consultation paper, Ofsted will be given a non-executive board and chair whose job it will be to hold the chief inspector to account for his performance.
Ofsted will now inspect children’s homes, children and family court advisory and support services, and adoption and fostering agencies. It is also likely to take over inspection of post-16 education from the Adult Learning Inspectorate.
The board will scrutinise Ofsted’s work in the new areas, although the chief inspector may remain directly accountable to Parliament for some responsibilities, including school inspections.
