Estyn annual remit: 2025 to 2026

1a) Detailed reports and, where appropriate, other resources drawing on evidence from thematic inspections

The thematic reviews to be included in the remit to Estyn for 2025 to 2026:

Area of Learning and Experience review: Science and Technology

This will be the second in a series of reviews of Areas of Learning and Experience. This will focus on the full age range from 3 to 16 years. The review will cover curriculum planning, teaching, assessment, and learner progress. The report will highlight effective practice.

Duration: large review

Healthy relationships in secondary schools and PRUs

This review will consider how well secondary schools and PRUs provide 11 to 16-year-olds with high quality learning experiences about healthy relationships. The review will consider how schools support positive healthy relationships as part of their whole-school approach (for example, building a positive and supportive culture, establishing policies and practices, interventions), as well as through teaching as part of the empowerment, safety and respect strand of their RSE provision, the relationships and identity strand of RSE, and the Healthy relationships Statement of What Matters within Health and Well-being. The review will also assess how well school staff are supported to deliver these learning experiences, considering the availability and effectiveness of training, professional learning, and ongoing support.

Duration: standard review

Attendance and participation in education in FE colleges and sixth forms

This review will consider levels of attendance and participation in FE colleges and sixth forms, comparing where possible. It will consider trends for different groups of learners and across different subject areas and course levels. It will consider the quality of support provided to learners.

Duration: standard review

Review of Education Welfare Services

This review will consider the approach of education welfare services across Wales and their impact in addressing persistent absenteeism. It will highlight effective practice and make recommendations for the development of education welfare services.

Duration: standard review

LA support for schools to manage their budgets

This review will consider what financial advice, information and training is available to support schools in strategic financial planning and managing their budget. It will highlight effective practice and make recommendations for improvements in the support provided.

Duration: standard review

Arrangements for and the quality of individual tuition for pupils educated otherwise than at school

This review will provide scrutiny of individual tuition for pupils who are educated otherwise than at school (EOTAS). It will consider variations in approaches across local authorities and schools. It will highlight effective practice and make recommendations for improvements in provision.

Duration: standard review

International languages

This review will evaluate teaching and learning international languages in primary, secondary and all-age schools in Wales. It will highlight effective practice through cameos within the report. It will provide a professional learning resource for all those involved in planning for and teaching international languages.

Duration: standard review

Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) in maintained schools and settings

This review will examine how schools and settings are currently using Generative AI within school life. The report will highlight examples of effective and(or) innovative practice. It will also highlight challenges experienced by the sector. This report will provide a national landscape view on the current use and impact of AI in schools and settings in Wales.

Duration: standard review 2^nd year

1b) Ongoing advice based on evidence from inspection, engagement work and other activity

Estyn provides advice to Welsh Government and support for decision making in a range of areas. During 2025 to 2026 Estyn will continue to gather information from inspection activity and engagement work to support the Welsh Government’s priorities for the education and training sectors. This will result in ongoing advice through meetings with Welsh Government officials and inform Estyn’s contributions to national working groups, the National Network Conversations, written advice, published guidance or reports.

Based on evidence gathered from inspections, engagement work and other activity, Estyn will also provide updates and advice on:

• implementation of the Humanities AoLE
• the impact of planning for literacy on pupils’ reading, writing and oracy skills
• developing learners’ mathematical understanding and applying numeracy skills across the curriculum
• developing learners’ digital competence
• developing learners as independent thinkers
• the impact of leadership on teaching
• ensuring Gypsy, Roma and Traveller pupils reach their potential
• effective practice in promoting equity and inclusion
• approaches to promote regular attendance and positive behaviour in schools
• ensuring effective safeguarding practices are in place

Estyn may be asked to provide support to various working groups through representation, presentation of written evidence or discussions with senior Education and Tertiary Education Directorate officials. This would also include advice and support for those aspects of post-compulsory education and training within Medr’s remit.

1c) Continue to work with Welsh Government, local authorities, and regional consortia/school improvement services to support schools and PRUs causing concern

Estyn will continue to work with partners to ensure that their monitoring and support for schools and Pupil Referral Units (PRUs) causing concern dovetails with the school improvement support provided by others.

1d) Implement new inspection arrangements in initial teacher education (ITE) and work-based learning (apprenticeship) sectors from September 2025

Estyn will consult on and implement new inspection arrangements in initial teacher education (ITE) and work-based learning (apprenticeship) sectors from September 2025. These arrangements will, where relevant, build on those introduced in most other sectors in September 2024.

1e) Support Medr

Estyn will support the ongoing development of Medr. Estyn will work with Medr and QAA (the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education) to develop guidance for providers on effective self-evaluation and continuous improvement planning.

1f) Other areas on which Welsh Government may require advice and support regarding education and training in Wales

Estyn also provides ongoing support in:

• school closure and reorganisation proposals
• development of the revised National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH)
• registration of independent schools, including material change requests
• inspection and regular monitoring of independent schools, including those registered to provide additional learning provision for learners with statements of special educational needs (SEN) or individual development plans
• inspection and regular monitoring of all independent specialist colleges in Wales
• development of qualifications and inspection arrangements for any proposed new initial teacher training and continuing professional development requirements for teachers, tutors, and trainers in the lifelong learning sector
• follow up work in respect of Local Education Authorities
• work with the Welsh Government Central Honours team to contribute any relevant intelligence as part of their process for validating honours citations for professionals within education and training providers
• background information for Ministerial meetings and visits to schools and other providers
• Senedd questions