Former law regulator to chair Independent Schools Inspectorate
Peter Williamson has been appointed Chairman of the Independent Schools Inspectorate. He will take up his appointment on 1st July 2012, on the retirement of June Taylor OBE.
Peter Williamson qualified as a solicitor in 1972. He was managing partner of Turner Kenneth Brown from 1986 – 90, a Governor of the College of Law from 2002 to 2005, President of the Law Society of England and Wales from 2003 to 2004 and Chair of the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) from 2005 – 2009.
The Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) is a body approved for the purpose of inspection under Section 162A of the Education Act 2002. In this capacity it reports to the Department for Education on the extent to which schools meet statutory requirements.
ISI is the agency responsible for the inspection of schools in membership of the Associations of the Independent Schools Council (ISC). Inspections also include the Early Years Foundation Stage and, from September 2011, boarding welfare.
ISI inspection is for the benefit of the pupils in the schools and seeks to improve the quality and effectiveness of their education and of the care for their welfare. It helps schools, their staff and governors/proprietors to recognise and build on their strengths and to identify and remedy any weaknesses.
About 80% of all children in independent schools are educated in ISC member schools and so are inspected by ISI. These schools cover the full range of day and boarding schools educating children and students from 0-18+.