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Education and Childcare Inspector

Do you want to become a Education and Childcare Inspector? Here is some information to help point you in the right direction:

Job Description - Print Page

Education and childcare inspectors, in some cases known as Her Majesty's Inspectors (HMIs), have a wide range of responsibilities including:

• inspecting schools, sixth form and further education colleges, youth support services, teacher training and local education authorities
• monitoring schools causing concern
• advising on various aspects of education, including curriculum subjects.

In England, separate childcare inspectors conduct inspections of childcare provision. In Wales, independent inspectors complete these inspections, and in Scotland HMIs carry out this work.
 
Regular school inspections generally take two to five days to complete; childcare inspections usually take one day or less. Inspectors often work from home and carry out inspections within the region in which they live.

Salaries range from around £21,000 for childcare inspectors to £59,457 a year for HMIs. Education and childcare inspectors need to:

• be fair, honest and capable of being objective
• have professional knowledge of their subject or area of expertise
• be able to exercise good judgement
• be good at planning and organising their work
• understand how to deal with sensitive and confidential information
• be able to build trusting relationships with people
• be interested in education and training.

Opportunities to work as an inspector exist throughout the UK. In England, Ofsted (the English inspectorate) employs approximately 250 HMIs and 1,000 childcare inspectors. There are currently about 5,000 Ofsted-approved additional inspectors, who may be employed on a full-time or contract basis by newly-appointed regional inspection service providers. In Wales, Estyn employ around 64 HMIs, and in Scotland there are currently around 100 HMIs. Competition to become an HMI is always very strong.

To be one of Her Majesty's Inspectors, candidates need to have professional knowledge of education, and many will hold postgraduate qualifications. Working at senior management level in an educational setting may also be a requirement for additional and independent inspectors. The work is only open to adult applicants.

It can take up to two academic terms to become an accredited inspector. Training includes face-to-face sessions, distance learning and a training placement.

In England, HMIs may progress to be assistant divisional managers or divisional managers. In Wales, progression is to the post of managing inspector or, subsequently, head of a division. In Scotland, HMIs may progress to higher grades through competition.

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