The direction of MAT inspections Ofsted reform is becoming clearer — and recent developments suggest a significant shift in how school groups will be held accountable.

The appointment of Matthew Purves to a leading role in shaping inspections for multi-academy trusts (MATs) reflects a broader transformation within Ofsted and the education system.

For schools and trust leaders, this isn’t just structural change. It has real implications for safeguarding, leadership, and day-to-day practice.

What is changing in MAT inspections Ofsted reform?

The government is moving forward with plans to introduce formal inspections of multi-academy trusts, expected to begin from the 2027–28 academic year.

These inspections will:

• Provide an independent view of trust performance
• Focus on leadership, governance and impact
• Assess how effectively trusts improve schools and support pupils

This marks a major shift. Historically, Ofsted has inspected individual schools — not the trusts that oversee them.

Why Matthew Purves’ role matters

Matthew Purves brings a unique perspective to this reform.

As National Director of the Ofsted Academy, he has led work on:

• Inspector training and development
• Improving consistency across inspections
• Increasing transparency in how Ofsted operates

He also has direct experience working within a multi-academy trust, with responsibility for safeguarding, wellbeing and leadership development.

This combination of regulatory and operational experience positions him to shape how MAT inspections are designed — and how they are experienced by schools.

From school-level to system-level accountability

One of the most significant aspects of MAT inspections Ofsted reform is the shift from individual school accountability to system-level accountability.

Multi-academy trusts already play a major role in:

• Curriculum design
• Safeguarding approaches
• Staff development
• Strategic leadership

However, inspections have historically focused only on individual schools — limiting visibility of the trust’s overall impact.

MAT inspections aim to change that.

What this means for safeguarding in schools

For safeguarding, this shift is particularly important.

Trust-level accountability will likely bring greater focus on:

• Consistency of safeguarding practice across schools
• Strategic oversight from trust leadership
• Use of data to identify patterns and risk

This aligns closely with the move towards proactive safeguarding cultures, where safeguarding is:

• System-led, not individual-led
• Consistent across teams
• Embedded into leadership decision-making