Government appoints 15 new Ofsted inspectors in England
New inspectors join Ofsted today. A Privy Council order, made on 12 November 2025 and in force from Thursday 13 November, appoints fifteen people as His Majesty’s Inspectors of Education, Children’s Services and Skills. The statutory instrument is published on legislation.gov.uk and confirms their legal status to lead inspections across England.
If you’re a parent, student or teacher, here’s the simple version: His Majesty’s Inspectors (HMIs) are senior, salaried inspectors at Ofsted. They lead teams into schools, colleges, early years settings and children’s social care, check that safeguarding is effective, and quality‑assure other inspectors’ work. Think of them as the experienced leads who set the tone for how an inspection is run, from the pre‑inspection call to the final quality checks.
Who’s been appointed? The Order names Nikki Heron, Daniel Philip Owen, Sally Robinson, Alison Regan, Perveen Akhtar Hussain, Martin John Davis, Matthew Benjamin Seex, Stephen Graham Lowe, Louise Philippa McArdle, Richard David Light, Jane Samantha Ayres, Mark Simon Scanlon, Penelope Anike Mosunmola Ademuyiwa, Gemma Louise McNevin and Victoria Louise Brown. From 13 November 2025 they hold the title His Majesty’s Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills.
What this means for you: no sudden change to inspection rules. This is a staffing update, not a policy shift. Families will still see the same published reports and providers will still work to the current inspection handbooks. The difference you might notice over time is capacity-more senior inspectors available to lead visits and moderate judgements, which can help with timeliness and consistency.
For school and college staff, HMIs often lead the call with the headteacher or principal, decide the lines of enquiry, and ensure evidence is robust. They check safeguarding records, hold professional discussions with subject leaders and trustees, and test what pupils actually know through lesson visits and work scrutiny. Their presence is designed to keep the process fair and consistent across regions.
A quick note on the paperwork you’re seeing shared today. Orders like this are made by the King in Council, recorded by the Privy Council, and signed by the Clerk of the Privy Council (Richard Tilbrook in this case). “Made” tells you when the Order was approved; “coming into force” marks the date the appointments legally start. This is why you’ll often see two dates side by side on legislation.gov.uk.
Is this unusual? Not really. 2025 has already seen several rounds of Ofsted inspector appointments via Orders in Council: a March order, a May “No. 2” order, and a June “No. 3” order all added inspectors earlier in the year. Today’s notice is the fourth such appointment Order in 2025, continuing that pattern.
Parents often ask what they should look for after an inspection. The key documents are the published report and the school’s response. Reports summarise strengths, areas to improve and safeguarding. If your child’s school has been inspected recently, leaders should explain the findings and how they will act on them; governors or trustees usually track that plan over the following terms.
For educators, the practical takeaway is to keep doing the basics well: up‑to‑date safeguarding training and records; a clear, well‑sequenced curriculum; secure assessment practice; and strong support for pupils with SEND. New HMIs will be trained to the same framework and national handbooks, so preparation still means knowing your context, evidence and intent.
Why we’re covering this. Appointment orders can feel dry, but they matter because they shape who arrives at your school gate. The names above are now part of the cadre that leads inspections, resolves borderline judgements, and supports improvements in early years, schools, further education and children’s social care. We’ll keep tracking any future changes to inspection policy; today is about people joining the team that delivers it.