Education Act 2005

20 Functions of Chief Inspector

(1) The Chief Inspector has the general duty of keeping the Assembly informed about—

(a) the quality of the education provided by schools in Wales,

(b) how far that education meets the needs of the range of pupils at those schools,

(c) the educational standards achieved in those schools,

(d) the quality of the leadership in and management of those schools, including whether the financial resources made available to those schools are managed efficiently,

(e) the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils at those schools, and

(f) the contribution made by those schools to the well-being of those pupils.

(2) When asked to do so by the Assembly, the Chief Inspector must—

(a) give advice to the Assembly on such matters as may be specified in the Assembly’s request, and

(b) inspect and report on such school, or class of school, in Wales as may be so specified.

(3) In addition, the Chief Inspector has the following specific duties—

(a) establishing and maintaining the register mentioned in section 25(1);

(b) giving guidance to inspectors registered in that register, and such other persons as he considers appropriate, in connection with inspections of schools in Wales under section 28 and the making of reports of such inspections;

(c) keeping under review the system of inspecting schools under that section and, in particular, the standard of such inspections and of the reports made by registered inspectors;

(d) keeping under review the extent to which any requirement imposed by or under this Part, or any other enactment, on any registered inspector, local education authority, proprietor of a school or governing body in relation to inspections of schools in Wales is complied with;

(e) promoting efficiency in the conduct and reporting of inspections of schools in Wales by encouraging competition in the provision of services by registered inspectors.

(4) The Chief Inspector may at any time give advice to the Assembly on any matter connected with schools, or a particular school, in Wales.

(5) The Chief Inspector is to have such other functions in connection with schools in Wales, including functions with respect to the training of teachers for such schools, as may be assigned to him by the Assembly.

(6) In exercising his functions, the Chief Inspector must have regard to such aspects of policy adopted or formulated by the Assembly as the Assembly may direct.

(7) This section does not apply in relation to education which is brought within the remit of the Chief Inspector by Part 4 of the Learning and Skills Act 2000 (c. 21).