(Tier 4) Educational Oversight - FAQs

(Tier 4) Educational Oversight in Northern Ireland
Frequently asked questions - February 2012

Information for organisations on the inspection process.

• What is the Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI)?
• When does the Northern Ireland application process for (Tier 4) Educational Oversight inspections begin?
• When will the details of the inspection process for (Tier 4) Educational Oversight inspections be available?
• Is ETI the only Educational Oversight body in Northern Ireland?
• How does an organisation in Northern Ireland know whether to apply to the ETI or the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education?
• How soon after applying will the ETI inspect the organisation?
• Will the ETI provide guidance on the inspection process?
• What will be the focus of the ETI inspections?
• Will there be a charge for the inspections?
• Does the ETI normally charge for inspections?
• Who in the ETI do I contact for further information?
• Why contact Inspection Services Branch?

1. What is the Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI)?

The ETI is part of the Department of Education in Northern Ireland and provides independent inspection services for the department and other government departments including the Department for Employment and Learning (DEL), the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL), and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD). It also carries out inspections in agreement with a number of external bodies including the Criminal Justice Inspection.

The key purpose of the ETI is to promote improvement in the interest of all learners through the development and use of effective quality improvement systems by education and training organisations, which are used to underpin a high quality education provision and raise standards and achievements. The ETI carry out inspections across a range of statutory, voluntary and community and private organisations including pre-schools, primary and post-primary schools, further education colleges, private training providers, youth and initial teacher education institutions.

The ETI has been approved by the UK Border Agency (UKBA) to provide Educational Oversight in Northern Ireland (for provision up to and including level 3 only).

2. When does the Northern Ireland application process for (Tier 4) Educational Oversight inspections begin?

The application process is now in place. The closing date for application for 2012 Educational Oversight inspections is 30^th April 2012.

3. When will the details of the inspection process for (Tier 4) Educational Oversight inspections be available?

The inspection framework and other documentation and arrangements that relate to (Tier 4) Educational Oversight inspections are now available on the ETI website (www.etini.gov.uk).  Please consult the website for all the latest available documentation.  

4. Is ETI the only Educational Oversight body in Northern Ireland?

In Northern Ireland, the ETI carry out inspections on any education provision up to and including level 3 only. Inspections above level 3 (higher education) are carried out by the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) for Higher Education.

5. How does an organisation in Northern Ireland know whether to apply to the ETI or the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education?

If most of the qualifications offered by an organisation are up to and including level 3, including English language programmes, application should be made to the ETI. For those organisations whose education provision is predominantly higher education focused (i.e. level 4 and above) application for (Tier 4) Educational Oversight should be made directly to the QAA.  (www.qaa.ac.uk)

6. How soon after applying will the ETI inspect the organisation?

Inspections are being planned to begin from April 2012 onwards.

7. Will the ETI provide guidance on the inspection process?

Yes. All relevant information and guidance are available on the ETI website. The reporting inspector (RI) responsible for the inspection will contact the organisation, shortly after the application process is complete to notify them that an inspection is to take place, and to make arrangements to carry out a pre-inspection visit. During the visit the RI will talk to management and relevant staff about what happens during and after an inspection and will arrange for any information or data needed by the ETI to be submitted prior to the inspection.

8. What will be the focus of the ETI inspections?

The focus will be on determining the overall quality of educational provision provided by the organisation. Further details of the inspection process and the inspection framework, including the quality indicators used for inspection, are published on the ETI website. As part of the inspection process, the organisation are asked to undertake a self-evaluation of their provision, based on the quality indicators contained in the inspection framework, and submit it to the ETI prior to the inspection. The ETI will provide a report on its findings from the inspection to the organisation inspected and will publish it on the ETI website.

9. Will there be a charge for the inspections?

Yes. Further details on the charges are published on the ETI website.

10. Does the ETI normally charge for inspections?

No.  Education Oversight inspections are outside the formal inspection process normally carried by the ETI. As a result, an inspection fee will be charged. Information on fees is available on the website.

11. Who in the ETI do I contact for further information?

Organisations are asked to contact Inspection Services Branch at the address below, to inform ETI of their intention to apply for Educational Oversight.

12. Why contact Inspection Services Branch?

The ETI is seeking to find out how many organisations intend to apply for Educational Oversight inspections, which will provide important information for inspection scheduling. Organisations will be asked initially to indicate an intention to apply, but there is a possibility that they may choose not to progress with a full application at a later stage.