The Institute of Directors (IoD) has criticised the government’s proposal to merge education watchdog Ofsted with the Adult Learning Inspectorate (ALI).
The merger, which followed the Hampton Review’s proposals to rationalise the number of inspectorates to improve public sector efficiency, is unnecessary, according to the IoD.
Miles Templeman, director-general of the IoD, said: “The IoD has consistently supported retaining the ALI as a separate inspectorate because of its successful contribution to improving the quality of adult learning and training.
“This merger is an unnecessary change. The government seems to have completely ignored the views of employers. The operational benefits were unconvincing and the financial savings underwhelming.”
The planned merger could jeopardise the improvements that have been achieved in work-based training provision, the IoD warned.
“There is a danger that the merged inspectorate will inevitably concentrate on children and schools at the expense of adult training,” said Templeman.
“Employers could be less inclined to pay the merged inspectorate for its services because it will probably be perceived to be an inspectorate for education, not work-based or adult learning.”
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