EDUCATION watchdog Ofsted has published a new five-year strategy.

The strategy, developed in conjunction with serving heads, teachers, and social workers, centres on a guiding principle that the organisation will be a force for improvement through intelligent, responsible and focused inspection and regulation.

Amanda Spielman, Chief Inspector of Ofsted, said: "By really drilling down on how, where and why we inspect and report, we can ensure that inspection and regulation are more than the sum of their parts.

"One of our greatest strengths is our bird’s eye view of the education, training and care systems. Over my time in office, we will do more to aggregate the insights from individual inspections, so that we can better encourage and support improvement across all the areas we inspect and regulate."

Nick Brook, deputy general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT said: "Ofsted’s new corporate strategy is welcome. It brings with it a clear desire on the part of the new chief inspector to work collaboratively, openly and respectfully with the thousands of professionals who are charged with the responsibility of educating our nation’s children."