The Post–16 Education and Training Inspection Regulations 2001

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations make provision for joint inspections, by the Adult Learning Inspectorate and Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Schools in England, of those institutions which provide education or training which falls within the remits of both Inspectorates (which remits are set out in Part III of the Learning and Skills Act 2000). They also make provisions for the publication of action plans following inspection and for expending the remit of the Adult Learning Inspectorate and the Chief Inspector of Schools in England.

Part II makes provision with respects to joint inspections.

Regulation 3 requires each Inspectorate, when proposing to conduct an inspection of an education or training provider, to ascertain whether such provision falls within the remits of both Inspectorates and, if it does, to tell the other Inspectorate and the Secretary of State (where the latter had initially requested the inspection). The provider must supply such information as is reasonably required by an Inspectorate for this purpose.

Regulation 4 requires a joint inspection to be conducted when the Secretary of State asks the two Inspectorates to conduct one. The Chief Inspector may also initiate a joint inspection by the two Inspectorates.

Regulation 5 requires the Chief Inspector to draw up a plan in accordance with which the joint inspection will be conducted.

Regulation 6 deals with reports following joint inspections. It also requires the Chief Inspector’s report to reflect the collective judgement of those conducting the inspection, and applies provisions of the Act relating to publication and sending of copies of reports.

Regulation 7 requires an action plan to be published by the provider.

Regulations 8 and 9 prescribe the persons to whom copies of action plans required to be prepared following inspection reports (including reports of area inspections) must be sent.

Regulation 10 expands the remit of the Adult Learning Inspectorate to include the inspection of training provided to those who themselves train others.

Regulation 11 expends the remit of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Schools in England to include the inspection of education and training provided to teachers and lecturers of further education and also the state funded education and training provided in institutions outside the further education sector (which includes that provided to 16 to 18 year olds with learning difficulties and to students of dance and drama).