Committee publication · Correspondence · 24 June 2025
Letter from Adam Sproston HMI, Ofsted on Multi-academy trust inspections and Complaints about Schools, dated 16.06.25
From: Education Committee
Inquiry: Solving the SEND Crisis
Summary
Adam Sproston HMI writes to the Education Committee following his 13 May evidence session on the SEND crisis. He provides detail on three areas: Ofsted's lack of current powers to inspect multi-academy trusts (welcoming Government commitment to legislate), the role of complaints in triggering school inspections, and data showing 10,000+ SEND-related complaints in three years and 115 inspections brought forward due to SEND-element complaints.
Key findings
- Ofsted currently lacks powers to inspect at multi-academy trust level but welcomes Government commitment to legislate for MAT inspections and fund their development and implementation.
- In the past three years, over 10,000 complaints received about state-funded schools contained an element of SEND concern—approximately one in five of all complaints.
- 115 inspections were brought forward or scheduled due to complaints with SEND elements over three years (52 in 2022–23, 34 in 2023–24, 29 in 2024–25), though SEND presence in a complaint does not necessarily determine inspection scheduling.
- Complaints data shows SEND-related complaints fluctuated from 3,100 (21% of all complaints) in 2022–23 to 3,550 (21%) in 2024–25, representing a consistent proportion of complaint volume.
- Ofsted closed consultation on new education inspections and report cards on 28 April; conclusions will be shared with the Committee when published.
Tone
ProceduralTopics
send-provisionschool-inspectionsmulti-academy-trustscomplaints-procedureseducation-policy
Key actors
Adam Sproston HMI, Helen Hayes MP, Education Select Committee, Ofsted, Government
Notable line
“Ofsted does not currently have powers to inspect at trust level . We very much welcome the Government's commitment to legislating for inspections of MATs and the commitment in …”
Key Quotes
“Ofsted does not currently have powers to inspect at trust level . We very much welcome the Government's commitment to legislating for inspections of MATs and the commitment in the Spending Review to provide Ofsted with funding to develop and implement MAT inspection.”
“In the past 3 years, over 10,000 complaints received about state-funded schools had an element of concern about SEND provision, which equates to around one in five of all complaints received as I mentioned in committee.”
“… the presence of SEND elements in a complaint does not necessarily mean that SEND was the deciding factor for bringing forward or scheduling an inspection.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗