Groups will offer ‘independent advice and challenge’ as watchdog embarks on wide-ranging reforms Groups will offer ‘independent advice and challenge’ as watchdog embarks on wide-ranging reforms Ofsted has named the members of seven new external reference groups that will offer “independent advice and challenge” as it embarks on wide-ranging reforms. Chief inspector Sir Martyn Oliver announced as part of his response to the “Big Listen” consultation this week that he had created the seven groups to “share ideas” and offer Ofsted feedback, including examining its frameworks, looking at training and inspection design and recommending improvements. Sir Martyn Oliver The groups will meet three times a year, and between them will “discuss and challenge Ofsted’s data, research and evaluation plans” and act as “expert advisors on their specialism, sharing important updates and developments”. They will also advise on proposed developments around Ofsted’s areas of research interest, policy or practice, and support and assist with “translating insights into recommendations and improvements for policy and practice”. The groups will also advise on “maximising impact and dissemination of our …