Ofsted has named the experts who will give advice on its work and make recommendations for improvement through seven external reference groups.
These groups, announced as part of Ofsted’s response to feedback received in its Big Listen consultation, will cover curriculum, teaching and assessment, behaviour and attendance, inclusion, staff and leader wellbeing, early years regulation and insights and evidence. The latter has two separate groups for education and social care.
It comes after Ofsted announced that a consultation will be launched on a new school inspection framework and report card system - to be introduced in September 2025 - after the Department for Education scrapped overall single-word judgements with immediate effect this week.
The groups include Russell Hobby, CEO of Teach First; Lee Owston, Ofsted’s national director of education; Rob Tarn, CEO of Northern Education Trust; and Tom Bennett, Department for Education behaviour adviser.
The groups will meet three times a year. They will discuss Ofsted data and evaluation plans, assist with improvements for policy and practice, and advise on training related to leader and staff wellbeing.
Ofsted’s chief inspector, Sir Martyn Oliver, said it will draw on the experience of the reference group members and will “welcome constructive challenge to drive continual improvement in our practices and better-quality inspections for children and learners”.
Mark Vickers, chief executive of Olive Academies, who has been appointed co-chair of the inclusion external reference group, said he is looking forward to using his experience in alternative provision, special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and the mainstream sector to “challenge and support” Ofsted reforms.
“I am passionate about inclusive practice and redressing the inequalities of access and opportunity within education, so it is a real honour to co-chair Ofsted’s reference group for inclusion, helping to drive improvements in this area,” he added.
Here is the full list of members for each of the seven external reference groups:
Curriculum, teaching and assessment external reference group
- Co-Chair: Chris Paterson, Education Endowment Foundation (EEF)
- Co-Chair: Lee Owston, Ofsted
- Andrew Percival, Stanley Road Primary School
- Chris Winch, King’s College London
- Clare Sealy, States of Guernsey
- Harry Kutty, Cantell School
- Jeffrey Quaye, Aspirations Academy Trust
- Matt Hood, Oak National Academy
- Molly Devlin, ARK Start
- Russell Hobby, Teach First
- Sue Morris-King, Ofsted
- Susan Pember, Holex
Behaviour and attendance external reference group
- Co-Chair: Rob Tarn, Northern Education Trust
- Co-Chair: Lee Owston, Ofsted
- Amanda Allard, National Children’s Bureau
- Catherine Roper, Wiltshire Police
- Helen Matthews, Ofsted
- Jon Chaloner, Confederation of Schools Trusts
- Sarah Clarke, National Network of Parent Carer Forums
- Susan Tranter, Edmonton Country School
- Tom Bennett, ResearchEd/Department for Education
- Tracey Campbell, The Academy for Behaviour Leadership
Inclusion external reference group
- Co-Chair: Mark Vickers, Olive Academies
- Co-Chair: Lee Owston, Ofsted
- Alun Francis, Social Mobility Commission
- Amanda Allard, Council for Disabled Children
- Cath Murray, Ambition Institute
- Joe Collin, Youth Endowment Fund
- Kiran Gill, The Difference
- Kirstie Fulthorpe, KLF Education
- Matt Jones, Ark Globe Academy
- Susan Douglas, Eden Academy Trust
- Victor Shafiee, Ofsted
Wellbeing of leaders and staff external reference group
- Chair: Matthew Purves, Ofsted
- Dame Alison Peacock, Chartered College of Teaching
- Ann Graham, Haringey London Borough Council
- Dominic Siwoku, Department for Education
- John Young, Ofsted
- Laura Fordham, Bedford Academy
- Lisa Telling, Katesgrove and Southcote Primary Schools
- Neil Leitch, Early Years Alliance
- Peter Fonagy, Anna Freud
- Polly Harrow, Kirklees College
- Sarah McIntosh, Mental Health First Aid England
- Stuart Allen, SCL Education and Training Limited
- Tim Coulson, Unity Schools Partnership and Schools Wellbeing Partnership
Insights and evidence (education) external reference group
- Co-Chair: Tim Leunig, Public First and Onward
- Co-Chair: Alex Jones, Ofsted
- Carole Willis, National Foundation for Educational Research
- Chris Wilson, ImpactEd Group
- Emily Yeomans, Education Endowment Foundation
- Ian Knowles, Department for Education
- Jo-Anne Baird, University of Oxford
- John Jerrim, University College London Institute of Education
- Jon Andrews, Education Policy Institute
- Josh Hillman, Nuffield Foundation
- Lee Elliot Major, University of Exeter
- Melanie Ehren, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
- Sam Freedman, Institute for Government
- Simon Burgess, University of Bristol
- Sue Morris-King, Ofsted
- Verena Bräehler, Ofsted
Early years regulation and social care external reference group
- Chair: Yvette Stanley, Ofsted
- Claire Dorer, National Association of Special Schools
- Colum Conway, Social Work England
- Harvey Gallagher, National Association of Fostering Providers
- Helen Donohoe, Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years
- Jo Fisher, Association of Directors of Children’s Services
- June O’Sullivan, London Early Years Foundation
- Katharine Sacks-Jones, Become
- Lisa Pascoe/Jayne Coward, Ofsted
- Lucy Harte, Care Quality Commission
- Mark Kerr, Children’s Homes Association
- Purnima Tanuku, National Day Nurseries Association
- Dame Rachel De Souza, children’s commissioner
Insights and evidence (social care) external reference group
