As a Crown body, we were established under the Education Act 1992. We’re independent of the Welsh Parliament but funded by the Welsh Government (under Section 104 of the Government of Wales Act 1998).
Advice and guidance
As well as inspecting, we advise and guide the Welsh Government on quality and standards of education and training.
We do this through our thematic reports, which are commissioned by the Minister for Education and cover a range of sectors and themes. Our reports are intended to encourage wider thinking and share effective practice.
Read the Welsh Government’s response to our thematic reports.
Why we inspect
Legislation sets out the powers of His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales. This includes what the Chief Inspector may or must inspect and report on, how often schools and other providers must be inspected and details for publishing inspection reports.
Legislation
Under the Education Act 2005 the Chief Inspector has a duty to keep the Welsh Parliament informed about the quality of the education in schools. He may also advise on matters connected with schools, or a particular school.
Similarly, under the Learning and Skills Act, the Chief Inspector can advise the Welsh Parliament on matters relating to education or training for those aged 16 or over in providers funded by the Welsh Government.
The main primary legislation governing our inspections is:
- Education Act 2005 (non-maintained nursery settings, maintained schools and PRUs)
- Education Act 2002 (independent schools)
- Learning and Skills Act 2000 (post-16 providers)
- Education Act 1997 (local authorities)
- Education Act 1994 (teacher training)
The legislation contains extra requirements for some sectors of education and training, particularly maintained schools. It includes provision for additional inspectors and Registered Inspectors, and for placing schools in categories of concern, such as special measures or significant improvement.
The legislation also sets out that all non-maintained nursery settings, maintained schools and Pupil Referral Units must be inspected within the eight-year period between September 2016 and August 2023.
Effective practice
When we see interesting and innovative practice during an inspection, we’re always keen to share it.
We invite schools and other providers to write case studies when we think they have something important to share.
Joint working
We work with Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW), Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW) and Audit Wales (AW). Together we are Inspection Wales, a joint initiative between the four main inspection, audit and review bodies in Wales.
We inspect education and training provision within the justice sector working with:
- CIW, in the case of secure children’s homes
- HMI Prisons, in the case of prisons and young offender institutions
- HMI Probation, in the case of Youth Offending Services.
We also inspect learners in England who are funded by the Welsh Government and who attend independent special colleges, work-based learning courses, and provision for young people in youth offending teams.
Our structure
Owen Evans is His Majesty's Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales (HMCI). He is supported by two Strategic Directors, a Corporate Services Director and five Assistant Directors.
All corporate staff are based in our Cardiff office, while His Majesty's Inspectors (HMI) are home-based.
Strategy and Executive Boards
An Executive Board supports and assists HMCI in leading and managing Estyn.
A Strategy Board sets and monitors our strategic agenda. It has two
sub-committees: the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee and the Remuneration Committee.
We keep a register of interest for Board members and for all permanent employees, secondees and temporary staff. None of our Board members holds directorship or other significant interests which might conflict with their management responsibility.
