HM Senior Chief Inspector (HMSCI)
HMSCI Graham Donaldson is accountable to the Scottish Ministers for the overall quality of HMIE's work, including the quality of professional advice provided for the day-to-day management of the agency and for planning its future development. He is responsible for ensuring that a systematic programme of evaluations is carried out and that the results are reported. HMSCI is also responsible for providing professional advice and information to Scottish Ministers, Scottish Executive Departments and key national bodies including those responsible for the funding, management, quality and delivery of education. He bases his advice on the evidence obtained from HMIE's extensive inspection and review programme and the wider knowledge of education and training systems acquired across the full range of HMIE activity.
Over the past year we have moved to a new structure of functional directorates, each headed by a chief inspector supported by two assistant chief inspectors. Each directorate has corporate responsibilities, sectoral inspection programmes, cross-cutting areas and internal and external liaison roles. An organisational guide is shown in the Appendix. These changes have been designed with the aim of introducing more effective and inclusive practice and securing best value in all aspects of our work. Although the new structure is still evolving, it has already had a positive impact on our organisation. We will continue to evaluate how we work as an organisation and make further changes which we feel would improve our effectiveness.
HM Senior Chief Inspector and chief inspectors form the core of the HMIE Senior Management Group which meets regularly and reports to the Management Board. The Board, which has responsibility for overseeing the work of the Inspectorate, comprises senior managers, other key HMIE personnel and external advisers Rowena Arshad and Andrew Cubie who were appointed to provide an independent perspective on our work.
Rowena Arshad is the Director for the Centre for Education for Racial Equality in Scotland (CERES) based in the University of Edinburgh. She is also the Scottish Commissioner for the Equal Opportunities Commission. Rowena sits on the Board of the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council, the Scottish Council for Independent Schools and the Scottish Advisory Committee of the British Council. She currently chairs the Equality Advisory Group for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and the Widening Access to Council Membership Progress group which was set up by the Scottish Executive as part of the forthcoming changes in local government. Rowena was awarded the OBE for services to race equality in 2001.
Andrew Cubie is a consultant (previously chairman and senior partner) with the long-established law firm Fyfe Ireland WS. He holds a number of non-executive and executive directorships in the public and private sectors. He is Commissioner of the Northern Lighthouse Board and Chair of the Court of Napier University, Quality Scotland, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (Scotland), British Council Scotland, British Executive Service Overseas, and the Joint Advisory Committee of the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework and of Scotland's Health at Work. He was Convenor of the Independent Committee of Inquiry into Student Finance in Scotland ('the Cubie Committee') which brought about the abolition of tuition fees in Scotland.
Inspection and review teams normally include one or more associate assessors who are practising teachers, headteachers, college lecturers or managers from colleges or other educational establishments or services. We have approximately 300 associate assessors working with the inspectorate. They are full members of inspection or review teams and their involvement enhances the process of inspection by bringing the perspective of current educational practitioners into the team. Their own organisations also benefit as the assessors develop their expertise and experience in the evaluation of education provision.
Most inspections and review teams include a lay member whose experience lies outwith education. Lay members take a particular interest in the ethos of the school or college, relationships between staff and pupils or students, and how schools and colleges interact with their local community and establish partnerships with parents. Currently there are around 150 lay members participating in inspection teams and we are actively seeking applications from others to join us. Details of how to apply to become a lay member can be found on our website www.hmie.gov.uk
Part-time inspectors are contracted to undertake a number of days work in the year. Former HMIE employees, for example retired HM Inspectors, or others with an extensive background in education including quality assurance work can be called upon at short notice to meet certain peaks of activity or unforeseen demands. Their flexibility to help out at short notice makes them a valuable resource for us.
This table below shows the gender balance of all HMIE staff between 1994 and 2004. It is followed by a chart showing gender and grade. Band A and B staff in this chart are administrative staff. Almost all Band C staff are HM Inspectors. SCS means senior civil service: chief inspectors and HMSCI.
HMIE staff by gender, 1994-2004
HMIE staff by gender and grade, 1994-2004
Full details of HMIE's income and expenditure will be available later this year. Audit Scotland will carry out an audit of our accounts in July/August 2004.