There have been ’innumerable’ improvements since the Education Department was inspected by Ofsted 17 years ago.

That’s the message from Education Minister Graham Cregeen MHK in the face of continued questioning of the length of time since the Department of Education, Sport and Culture has faced an external validation by experts.

That dates back to 2002, when there was an inspection by Ofsted.

Mr Cregeen said the report was published at the time. He added: ’Since 2002, there have been very significant changes to the ways in which the department carries out its functions - including the inclusion of sport and culture within its remit -and the department believes that there have been innumerable improvements to its work over the last 17 years.’

There has been no fully external inspection of the department since. Mr Cregeen has argued that, in common with other government departments, it is subject to scrutiny from Tynwald in general and the social affairs policy review committee in particular.

But others have argued that, given all schools have to undergo a validation of their own self-review and evaluation, a similar process should apply to the department.

In the House of Keys this week, Jason Moorhouse (Arbory, Castletown and Malew) asked which of the recommendations from the 2002 Ofsted report had been implemented.

Mr Cregeen said in a written reply: ’The relationship between central government, the department and schools described in the 2002 report bears little relationship to the current landscape.’

He pointed out that it refers to the 1949 Education Act and ’forthcoming Education Act 2001’. A new all-encompassing Education Bill is set to be introduced to the House of Keys shortly, once the current consultation on it has been completed.

The Minister stated: ’The review made 44 recommendations, ranging from the development of an education improvement service, changes to strategic management for the department, 16-19 education, finance, special educational needs, access to education and youth and community education.’

He added that HM Inspector of Schools David Halligan reviewed progress in 2004, with ’generally positive’ findings.

Mr Cregeen added: ’Though it is sometimes difficult to make a judgement because of the very different contexts, it is the department’s belief that, of all 44 recommendations, it has implemented the recommendation, gone significantly beyond the recommendation or has recognised that the recommendation has become out-of-date.’