Ofsted has announced a new pilot programme aimed at bringing more serving school and college leaders into inspection teams across England’s education system. The initiative is designed to
strengthen inspections by increasing the involvement of professionals who are currently working in the sector.
Traditionally, Ofsted inspections combine the expertise of full-time inspectors with the practical insight of contracted inspectors who continue to work within education. Through this pilot, the inspectorate wants to deepen that collaboration by creating new ways for active education leaders to contribute their real-world experience to inspections.
The move reflects Ofsted’s broader commitment to ensuring that inspection teams include professionals with up-to-date, sector-specific knowledge. Leaders who are currently managing schools, colleges and training providers are seen as well placed to understand the pressures, challenges and day-to-day realities faced by education providers.
At present, most contracted inspectors join Ofsted individually, and their contact with other inspectors tends to be limited to the inspections themselves. While this approach has worked effectively, it has offered limited opportunities for wider professional dialogue and shared learning.
The new pilot aims to change that. Through programmes run by the Ofsted Academy, contracted inspectors will have structured opportunities to collaborate, reflect on their experiences and share insights with colleagues and full-time inspectors.
Under the scheme, inspectors are being recruited in peer groups drawn from the professional networks they already belong to. These include multi-academy trusts, local authorities, dioceses, school partnerships, independent learning providers and further education colleges.
By joining in groups, participants will form professional communities within Ofsted, allowing them to exchange feedback and discuss what they are observing during inspections. Their experiences will help inform how Ofsted continues to develop and improve its inspection framework.
Announcing the pilot at the annual conference of the Association of School and College Leaders, His Majesty’s Chief Inspector, **Sir Martyn Oliver**, said the initiative would allow Ofsted to draw on current sector insight in a more systematic way.
He encouraged education leaders to take part, saying the programme offers an opportunity to give back to the system and influence how inspections operate. According to Oliver, involving more leaders directly in inspections will help make the process more collaborative while maintaining a strong focus on raising standards for pupils and learners.
Participants joining through the pilot will still complete the same training and carry out the same inspection work as existing contracted inspectors. However, the model removes a separate inspection fee. Instead, Ofsted will contribute to employers’ costs, allowing staff to become inspectors as part of their professional development.
The organisation is also developing additional learning opportunities to complement inspection training, ensuring that the role provides clear professional benefits for both participants and their employers.
The first group of participants began training in January and are currently observing inspections as part of a shadowing process. They are expected to start taking part in live inspections later this term. Additional cohorts will begin training later in the year, with the pilot continuing throughout 2026.
Feedback gathered during the programme will help Ofsted decide how it recruits inspectors in the future. The inspectorate is also considering whether a similar approach could be introduced for inspections in early years education and social care.
