The Education (Inspectors of Education and Training in Wales) Order 2025

Published: Mon 17th Nov 25

The Order formally appointed specific named individuals as His Majesty’s Inspectors of Education and Training in Wales effective from November 20th, 2025.

This statutory instrument, made by the King in Council under the powers granted by the Education Act 2005, formally appoints the individuals listed in the accompanying Schedule to serve as His Majesty’s Inspectors of Education and Training in Wales (or Arolygwyr Ei Fawrhydi dros Addysg a Hyfforddiant yng Nghymru), and it stipulated that the Order comes into force on November 20th, 2025.

Arguments For

Establishes the formal mechanism for appointing inspectors responsible for overseeing the quality of education and training within Wales, ensuring regulatory oversight remains current and staffed.
Provides the necessary legal basis, derived from section 19(2) of the Education Act 2005, for these appointments, maintaining the rule of law in educational governance.
Ensures functional continuity for the inspection services in Wales by officially sanctioning the designated inspectors listed in the Schedule.

Arguments Against

The mechanism relies on Orders made by the King in Council, which, while constitutionally valid, removes the decision from direct parliamentary scrutiny typical of standard legislation.
The Order's effect is administrative, merely confirming appointments; it does not address potential capacity issues or the effectiveness of the inspection framework itself.
The bilingual naming convention (English and Welsh) adds administrative complexity, though this reflects requirements for public offices within Wales.

At the Court at Buckingham Palace, the 12th day of November 2025

Present,

The King’s Most Excellent Majesty in Council

This sets the formal legal context for the document, indicating that the decision was made by the sovereign (The King) while presiding over a meeting of the Privy Council at Buckingham Palace on November 12, 2025.

His Majesty, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 19(2) of the Education Act 2005 is pleased, by and with the advice of His Privy Council, to order as follows:

This clause confirms the legal authority used to create the Order, citing section 19(2) of the Education Act 2005.

It signifies that the King is issuing this directive based on the recommendation and advice provided by the Privy Council.

Citation and commencement

This Order may be cited as the Education (Inspectors of Education and Training in Wales) Order 2025 and comes into force on 20th November 2025.

The first article specifies how the legal document is named: The Education (Inspectors of Education and Training in Wales) Order 2025.

It also states the legislation becomes legally effective on November 20, 2025.

Appointment of His Majesty’s Inspectors of Education and Training in Wales or Arolygwyr Ei Fawrhydi dros Addysg a Hyfforddiant yng Nghymru

The persons named in the Schedule to this Order are appointed as His Majesty’s Inspectors of Education and Training in Wales or Arolygwyr Ei Fawrhydi dros Addysg a Hyfforddiant yng Nghymru.

This article executes the primary function of the Order: officially appointing the individuals listed in the Schedule to serve as HM Inspectors for Education and Training in Wales.

It provides both the English and Welsh titles for the roles.

Clerk of the Privy Council

Richard Tilbrook

This section records the signature of the Clerk of the Privy Council, Richard Tilbrook, verifying the official procedural nature of the document's issuance.

SCHEDULE

Article 2

Persons appointed as His Majesty’s Inspectors of Education and Training in Wales or Arolygwyr Ei Fawrhydi dros Addysg a Hyfforddiant yng Nghymru.

Andrew Brassington
Dean Curtis
Matthew Goulding
Nathan Horleston
Gerallt Jones
Lisa Lewis
Penny Peet

The Schedule explicitly lists the names of the seven individuals granted the official appointment under Article 2.

This list formally designates who holds the role of HM Inspector of Education and Training in Wales.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order appoints the persons named in the Schedule as His Majesty’s Inspectors of Education and Training in Wales or Arolygwyr Ei Fawrhydi dros Addysg a Hyfforddiant yng Nghymru.

The Explanatory Note clarifies, outside the binding text of the Order, that the sole purpose of this legislation is to formalize the appointments of the specified individuals as His Majesty’s Inspectors for Wales.

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