Inspectors are senior ELT professionals, contracted by the British Council.

Appointments to the panel of inspectors are made by the ASB, initially for one year, and renewable subject to the needs of the Scheme for periods of up to two years thereafter. Inspectors are suitably qualified and appropriately experienced. They must be demonstrably impartial and able to make their assessments with full professional independence.

The panel of inspectors includes those from state or private sector institutions, freelance specialists and those with other relevant areas of expertise.

The panel of inspectors is so constituted that individuals can be selected from it whose experience is relevant to the activities of the provider they are to assess. Inspectors are expected to attend regular briefing sessions, and new inspectors undergo a period of induction and probation alongside experienced inspectors.

CHIEF INSPECTORS

The Board appoints two chief inspectors from the panel of inspectors. The appointments are for one year, renewable by mutual agreement. It is likely that one chief inspector will have greater familiarity with the state sector and one with the private sector.

The role of the chief inspectors, in addition to carrying out inspections, is, in co-ordination with the Accreditation Unit, to:

			manage the training and briefing of inspectors
			represent inspectors’ views in the development of the Scheme
			liaise between the inspectors and the Unit
			attend meetings of the ASAC.