HL Deb 17 December 1984 vol 458 c526WA
Baroness David

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many of Her Majesty's inspectors of schools are operating at the nursery level, primary level, secondary level, further level, higher level, even if some operate at more than one level.

The Earl of Swinton

The available records indicate that, in the spring term 1984, the numbers of Her Majesty's inspectors inspecting different categories of institutions were:

England Wales Northern Ireland
Nursery Schools 20 3 28
Primary Schools 193 25
Secondary Schools 252 42 43
Special Schools 45 5 7
Independent Schools 120 18
Further and Higher Education (including Teacher Training).. 233 30 35
Youth and Community Provision 37 7 10
Adult Education 34
Total number of HMI in post 397 46 56

The majority of Her Majesty's inspectors visited more than one category of institution and are thus counted more than once in the figures above. These figures do not reflect the proportions of time spent in the inspection of each category of institution.

In Scotland, Her Majesty's Inspectorate keeps records on a different basis. In 1984–85 the 110 HMI in post in Scotland will apportion their time as follows:

Nursery and Primary Schools 28 per cent.
Secondary Schools 47 per cent.
Special Schools 6 per cent.
Further and Higher Education 19 per cent.