Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the feasibility of using expert Ofsted inspectors to teach in schools where cover is unavailable.

The deployment of Ofsted inspectors is a matter for Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Amanda Spielman. I have asked her to write to the hon. Member for Feltham and Heston directly and a copy of her reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Ofsted’s inspection arrangements have rightly been kept under review as the COVID-19 outbreak develops, and adjustments made where appropriate. At the start of January, Ofsted temporarily halted use of part time inspectors who are also front-line leaders so they could focus on their leadership responsibilities. From Monday 31 January, Ofsted are once again inviting those leaders who are able to inspect again to do so as it moves back to its full programme of inspections.