Which agency holds schools, colleges, and nurseries to account?

• A. CQC
• B. Ofsted
• C. NHS England
• D. Environment Agency

Answer: (B)

Holding educational establishments to account means assessing whether they meet expected standards for teaching quality, safeguarding, leadership, and pupil outcomes, and then reporting on findings to drive improvement. In England, that role is carried out by Ofsted, the Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills. Inspectors evaluate schools, colleges, and nurseries through visits, review teaching and welfare practices, check how well pupils are learning and safe, and consider how well leaders run the institution. They publish a formal report and give a rating (for example, outstanding, good, requires improvement, or inadequate) that informs parents, policymakers, and the public about the institution’s performance and areas for improvement. The other options focus on different sectors: a health and care regulator; a national health service overseer; and an agency handling environmental matters. Since the question is about accountability for educational settings, Ofsted is the appropriate agency.