The Inspectors of Education, Children’s Services and Skills (No. 4) Order 2025
This Order, issued by His Majesty in Council on November 12, 2025, formally appoints the individuals listed in the Schedule as His Majesty’s Inspectors of Education, Children’s Services and Skills, effective from November 13, 2025, exercising powers conferred under section 114(1) of the Education and Inspections Act 2006.
Arguments For
Establishes a formal, legally valid body of inspectors necessary for the continuation of educational oversight and quality assurance in England.
Ensures that inspections related to education, children's services, and skills are carried out by individuals formally appointed under the powers granted by the Education and Inspections Act 2006.
Provides necessary staffing continuity and expansion for regulatory functions within the education sector as mandated by statute.
Arguments Against
The Order itself constitutes a routine administrative appointment process, offering little substantive policy ground for criticism apart from potential questions regarding the selection criteria or departmental staffing needs.
Opponents might raise concerns about the scope or impartiality of the inspection regime generally, as these specific appointments are merely the execution of existing powers under the 2006 Act.
At the Court at Buckingham Palace, the 12th day of November 2025
Present,
The King’s Most Excellent Majesty in Council
This opening declares the time and place—Buckingham Palace on November 12, 2025—where the decision was made.
It confirms that the final authority for the Order is the King (His Majesty) acting in his Privy Council.
His Majesty, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 114(1) of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 , is pleased, by and with the advice of His Privy Council, to order as follows:
This part establishes the legal authority for the Order.
The King uses powers given by Section 114(1) of the Education and Inspections Act 2006.
The Order is being made formally with the agreement and recommendation of the members of the Privy Council.
- Citation and commencement This Order may be cited as the Inspectors of Education, Children’s Services and Skills (No. 4) Order 2025 and comes into force on 13th November 2025.
This section provides the official short title for the legislation, which is used when referring to the document.
It also specifies that the Order becomes legally operative the day after it is made, on November 13th, 2025.
- Appointment of His Majesty’s Inspectors of Education, Children’s Services and Skills The persons named in the Schedule to this Order are appointed as His Majesty’s Inspectors of Education, Children’s Services and Skills.
This is the core operative clause.
It officially confirms the appointment of specific individuals to the position of His Majesty’s Inspectors of Education, Children’s Services and Skills.
The complete list of those appointed is detailed separately in the Schedule.
SCHEDULE The persons appointed as His Majesty’s Inspectors of Education, Children’s Services and Skills on 13th November 2025
Article 2
- Nikki Heron
- Daniel Philip Owen
- Sally Robinson
- Alison Regan
- Perveen Akhtar Hussain
- Martin John Davis
- Matthew Benjamin Seex
- Stephen Graham Lowe
- Louise Philippa McArdle
- Richard David Light
- Jane Samantha Ayres
- Mark Simon Scanlon
- Penelope Anike Mosunmola Ademuyiwa
- Gemma Louise McNevin
- Victoria Louise Brown
The Schedule lists the names of the fifteen individuals who receive the formal appointment under Article 2.
This list is legally linked to the preceding Article, confirming their roles start on the commencement date of November 13, 2025.
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, Children’s Services and Skills.
The Explanatory Note provides a brief, non-binding summary of the Order's function.
It clarifies that the sole purpose of this legal instrument is to formally enact the appointments of the individuals listed in the Schedule to the Inspector roles.
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