Section 5: Duty to inspect certain schools at prescribed intervals
30.This section requires all schools previously covered by section 10 of SIA 1996 to be inspected at intervals to be prescribed in regulations. Section 10 of that Act requires the inspection of those schools to be carried out by a registered inspector; however section 60 repeals the SIA 1996, thereby removing the requirement for registered inspectors in England. This section transfers the responsibility for inspecting every school in England to the Chief Inspector. By virtue of paragraph 5 of Schedule 1 the inspections and the exercise of any functions required in administering and delivering them may be carried out by HMI, any additional inspector or any other member of the Chief Inspector’s staff in the name of the Chief Inspector.
31.Subsection (5) requires inspection reports to cover the same four areas currently covered by reports under section 10 of SIA 1996, with the addition, in subsection (5)(b), of how far the education provided meets the needs of the range of pupils and in subsection (5)(f) of the contribution made by the school to the well-being of its pupils.