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Present

Martin Spencer, Chair

Laura Wyld, Board member

Jon Yates, Board member

Jo Moran, Board member

Ian Looker, Co-opted member

Also in attendance

Martyn Oliver, His Majesty鈥檚 Chief Inspector (HMCI)

Matthew Coffey, Deputy His Majesty鈥檚 Chief Inspector (DHMCI)

Louise Grainger, Chief Financial Officer

Principal Private Secretary to HMCI and Head of Private Office

Head of Corporate Governance

Corporate Governance Officer

Khadija Qidwai, National Audit Office (NAO)

Emily Murfitt, National Audit Office (NAO)

Adeel Shameem, EY

Hassan Rohimun, EY

Tony Smith, Government Internal Audit Agency (GIAA)

Rory Gribbell, Director, Strategy and Engagement (items 6, 8, 9, 10)

Strategic Priorities Risks and Compliance Lead (item 9)

Status

Approved at the聽ARAC聽meeting 21 January 2025.

1. Chair鈥檚 introduction, declarations of interest, minutes, actions and matters arising

The Chair welcomed Emily Murfitt from the National Audit Office.

Laura Wyld declared she has agreed to serve as an officer of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on maternity with a start date of March 2025.

The minutes of the last meeting were approved as a correct record.

All actions from last meeting were closed.

2. Verbal report from HMCI

HMCI provided an update on the progress of the 鈥極fsted 2025鈥� programme (programme for delivery of inspection and organisational priorities for the next year). This included ongoing work by Ofsted on inspection improvement and engagement with the Department for Education (DfE).

3. Progress against audit recommendations

The committee noted the revised deadlines and reasons for the delays in completing 5 actions. Since the last report, one action has been partially completed.

4. Internal audit progress report

The committee noted all engagements on the 2024-25 plan have been progressed and the plan will be delivered in full by March 2025. The committee were assured that GIAA is adequately resourced to deliver the plan.

The committee noted one projected change to the plan since the September ARAC and the proposed postponement of the Ofsted Academy audit to 2025-26. Days will be reallocated to widen cyber and payroll audits.

The committee discussed recent insights publications by GIAA, which they found to be valuable.

Action: Jon Yates to email Tony Smith, GIAA to advise on which departments should be listed for the 鈥楽afer Streets鈥� mission.

5. External audit draft audit planning report

Members of the committee noted the report presenting details of the proposed approach for the audit of the 2024-25 financial statements.

Members queried the fee increase and questioned the extent to which this related to inflation or increased scope. Reasons for the increase were discussed, and the committee expressed its concern and asked for more information to be shared.

Action: NAO Engagement Director to provide a breakdown of the fee relating to the audit of the 2024-25 financial statements and reasons for the increase to the Chief Financial Officer.

Action: NAO Engagement Director to take forward ARAC鈥檚 feedback on fee increases and share any response with ARAC.

6. Annual report and accounts (ARA) 2024-25

The committee received an update on the proposed governance arrangements and draft timetable for production of the ARA 2024-25.鈥�

Committee members endorsed in principle the proposal to deliver a more succinct ARA for 2024-25, and the subsequent years of HMCI鈥檚 tenure.聽They noted that this will draw on less resource and represent improved value for money.

The committee endorsed the draft timetable.

Action: Board secretary to schedule a suitable date in May for ARAC members to review the 2024-25 ARA.

7. Value for money and insight work

The committee noted the recent and upcoming publications.

8. Finance report and update on the spending review

The committee noted the financial position and the period 6 forecast.

The committee noted the forecast included the pay award and additional funding for digital changes relating to Ofsted 2025.聽

The committee noted that the first phase of the spending review is complete. The committee discussed the bids that were submitted, as well as the proposed priorities and next steps.

The committee noted the expected timeline for the second phase of the spending review.

9. Strategic risk

The committee reviewed changes to the organisational risk management policy, and scrutinised the strategic risk register, reviewing each strategic risk in detail.

The committee thanked the strategy team for their work to improve the strategic risk register. The committee supported the changes to the risk management policy and new format of the strategic risk register, with the below actions to be implemented.

Action: Director, Strategy and Engagement to adjust the labelling of the register to clarify residual, current and historic risk status, as well as risk tolerance.

Action: Director, Strategy and Engagement to share a draft of the above changes with committee members via correspondence. Board members to give feedback and changes to be agreed and implemented before the next ARAC meeting.

The committee discussed risk tolerance in detail. It was agreed that the ARAC would set and regularly review risk tolerance for each strategic risk, which will then be scrutinised and approved by the board. This will be reflected in the revised corporate governance framework.

The committee discussed arrangements for reporting strategic risk to the board. It was agreed that the ARAC Chair would feed back to the board on discussion at ARAC and highlight the highest priority strategic risks.

10. Information rights: minutes process

The committee noted the process for approving and publishing minutes.

GIAA, NAO, EY attendees left the meeting after this item.

11. Internal audit services

The committee discussed the future arrangements for internal audit services provision.

12. Target operating model

The committee were appraised of proposals for revised internal structures聽at Ofsted. The committee supported the principles that sat behind the proposals.

13. AOB

There was no other business.