Ofsted’s national director of education, Sean Harford, is to leave the watchdog.

Mr Harford has been in this role since 2015 and has been a high-profile figure for the inspectorate both during the Sir Michael Wilshaw era and throughout the launch of its new inspection framework in 2019 under current chief inspector, Amanda Spielman.

He was seconded to the Cabinet Office last year during the Covid crisis and returned to Ofsted in January.

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Tes understands that Ofsted staff have been informed of his departure. He is set to leave the post at the end of August.

Ofsted director Sean Harford ‘made an enormous contribution’

Confirming Mr Harford’s departure, an Ofsted spokesperson said: “Sean Harford, our national director for education, has decided to retire early and will leave Ofsted on 31 August this year.

“Over the past 18 years, Sean has made an enormous contribution to Ofsted and the education sector, and his intellect, challenge and wit will be greatly missed.

“We wish him well with the list of exciting things he has planned to keep him busy in future.

“A new national director will be appointed in the coming weeks.”

Mr Harford was appointed as HMI in 2003.

Since joining Ofsted, he has worked in school improvement, school inspection policy and organisational restructuring.

His previous post in Ofsted was national director, schools.