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<p>The Department requested, received and considered information from the Independent Schools Inspectorate (‘ISI’) prior to confirming re-approval of the inspectorate on 29 March 2023. This included ISI’s statement of independence and information about ISI’s board members, their backgrounds and interests. This allowed the Department to satisfy itself that ISI was meeting the requirements under paragraphs 10, 11, 12 and 13 of its approval agreement. The Department has subsequently requested information about planned changes to the board and satisfied itself that those paragraphs would continue to be met. The Department will continue to request information when changes occur and otherwise periodically to confirm that ISI will continue to meet the terms of its approval agreement.</p><p>Since 23 April 2023, officials from the Department have met ISI to discuss ISI’s performance in the second quarter (on 4 May 2023) and third quarter (on 12 September 2023) of the current calendar year. The Department has also discussed performance at other meetings with ISI which occur at least fortnightly.</p><p>The Secretary of State has not requested that Ofsted carry out any additional monitoring of ISI since 24 April 2023 beyond that routinely required by the November 2019 direction, which is available at: <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5ed6196486650c76adc36f64/Inspectorate_Monitoring_Direction_4_Nov_2019.pdf" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5ed6196486650c76adc36f64/Inspectorate_Monitoring_Direction_4_Nov_2019.pdf</a>. Ofsted will publish its annual report later in the autumn.</p><p>The Department has received complaints related to ISI both through ISI and from other sources since 1 January 2023. These are considered and raised with ISI as appropriate on a case-by-case basis.</p> |