Estyn is the education and training inspectorate for Wales. Its name comes from the
Welsh language
Welsh ( or ) is a Celtic language family, Celtic language of the Brittonic languages, Brittonic subgroup that is native to the Welsh people. Welsh is spoken natively in Wales, by some in England, and in Y Wladfa (the Welsh colony in Chubut P ...
verb ''estyn'' meaning "to reach (out), stretch or extend". Its function is to provide an independent inspection and advice service on quality and standards in education and training provided in Wales.
It is independent from, but funded by, the
Welsh Government
The Welsh Government ( cy, Llywodraeth Cymru) is the Welsh devolution, devolved government of Wales. The government consists of ministers and Minister (government), deputy ministers, and also of a Counsel General for Wales, counsel general. Minist ...
(section 104 of the
Government of Wales Act 1998
The Government of Wales Act 1998 (c. 38) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.
It was passed in 1998 by the Labour government to create a Welsh Assembly, therefore granting Wales a degree of self-government. This legislative bo ...
). His Majesty's Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales (HMCI) and her staff are Crown and civil servants.
Meilyr Rowlands was appointed as HM Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales (HMCI) on 1 June 2015.
[Estyn welcomes new chief inspector http://www.estyn.gov.wales/news/estyn-welcomes-new-chief-inspector]
The strategic directors are Simon Brown HMI and Claire Morgan HMI.
The purpose of Estyn is to inspect and report on the quality and standards of education and training provided in Wales, including:
* how far education and training meet the needs of learners and contribute to their development and wellbeing;
* standards achieved; and
* the quality of leadership and training.
Estyn's head office is in Cardiff. Estyn was awarded Investors in People Gold (IIP) accreditation in March 2011 and was re-awarded IIP Gold in 2018.
The equivalent body in Scotland is
Education Scotland
Education Scotland ( gd, Foghlam Alba) is an executive agency of the Scottish Government, tasked with improving the quality of the country's education system.
Origins
The creation of the Agency was announced by Scottish Government Education a ...
and in England it is
Ofsted
The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted) is a Non-ministerial government department, non-ministerial department of Government of the United Kingdom, His Majesty's government, reporting to Parliament of the U ...
.
Range of inspection
Estyn inspects the following:
* nursery schools and settings that are maintained by, or receive funding from, local authorities;
* primary schools;
* secondary schools;
* special schools;
* pupil referral units;
* independent schools;
* further education;
* independent specialist colleges;
* adult community learning;
* local authority education services for children and young people;
* regional consortia for school improvement;
* teacher education and training;
* Welsh for adults;
* work-based learning; and
* learning in the justice sector.
Inspection reports are published on th
Estyn website
Objectives
Strategic objectives
Estyn's strategic objectives are:
*Provide public accountability to service users on the quality and standards of education and training provision in Wales;
*Inform the development of national policy by the Welsh Government; and
*Build capacity in the delivery of education and training in Wales.
Estyn works in collaboration with the Care and Social Services Inspectorate for Wales (CSSIW), Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW) and Wales Audit Office (WAO) to implement the Welsh Government's policy statement on Inspection, Audit and Regulation. In partnership with
Ofsted
The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted) is a Non-ministerial government department, non-ministerial department of Government of the United Kingdom, His Majesty's government, reporting to Parliament of the U ...
, Estyn has responsibility for inspecting learners in England who are funded by the Welsh Government and who attend independent special schools, work-based learning courses, and provision for young people in youth offending teams. Estyn inspects, through joint working with HMI Probation and HMI Prisons, the education of offenders in secure estate and prisons in Wales.
See also
*
Education in Wales
This article provides an overview of education in Wales from early childhood to university and adult skills. Largely state funded and free-at-the-point-of-use at a primary and secondary level, education is compulsory for children in Wales aged f ...
Footnotes
{{Authority control
Education in Cardiff
Educational organisations based in Wales