Ripon College - V10 Published Report (October 2008) (pdf)

The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted) is the non-ministerial government department of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools In England ("HMCI"). We inspect and regulate to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education, skills and training for learners of all ages.

The new Ofsted came into being on 1 April 2007 and brings together the wide experience of four inspectorates to make a greater difference for every child, and for all young people and adult learners, in England.

We want to raise aspirations and contribute to the long term achievement of ambitious standards and better life chances for service users. Their educational, economic and social well-being will in turn promote England's national success.

To achieve this we will report fairly and truthfully; we will listen to service users and providers; and we will communicate our findings with all who share our vision, from service providers to policy-makers. We do not report to government ministers but directly to Parliament (and to the Lord Chancellor about children and family courts administration). This independence means you can rely on us for impartial information.

The Education and Inspections Act, which established the new Ofsted, specifically requires that in everything we do we should:

• promote service improvement
• ensure services focus on the interests of their users
• see that services are efficient, effective and promote value for money.