{{Short description|British teacher and public servant}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} thumb|right|Dame Christine Ryan '''Dame Christine Ryan''', {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|sep=,|DBE|FRSB}} is a British teacher and public servant. Ryan worked as a teacher, and then as a school inspector. She was Chief Inspector of the Independent Schools Inspectorate for twelve years. From August 2020 to 2025, she was Chair of the Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted). Ryan is a co-founder of an education consultancy, Ryan and Grunsell.
== Life == Christine Ryan is a British teacher and public servant. Ryan worked as a teacher between 1976 and 1993, and she was then an Ofsted inspector from 1993 to 2009, and Chief Inspector and CEO of the Independent Schools Inspectorate from 2005 to 2017.<ref name="WW 2021">{{cite web |date=1 December 2020 |title=Ryan, Dame Christine, Chief Inspector and Chief Executive Officer, Independent Schools Inspectorate, 2005–17; Partner, Ryan and Grunsell Ltd, since 2017 |url=http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/article/oupww/whoswho/U290283 |access-date=9 March 2021 |website=Who's Who 2021 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="new">{{cite web |title=New Ofsted chair announced |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-ofsted-chair-announced--6 |access-date=9 March 2021 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Appointments made: April 2020 to March 2021 |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/department-for-education-non-executive-appointments/appointments-made-april-2020-to-march-2021 |access-date=9 March 2021 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}</ref> Since August 2020, she has been Chair of the Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted), replacing Julius Weinberg.<ref name="new" /> During her tenure, Ofsted transitioned to a new Chief Inspector, endured the demands of the COVID-19 pandemic, and undertook the largest public consultation in its history, called the Big Listen.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Cumiskey |first=Lucas |date=2024-11-29 |title=Ofsted chair Dame Christine Ryan to step down |url=https://feweek.co.uk/ofsted-chair-dame-christine-ryan-to-step-down/ |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=feweek.co.uk |language=en-GB}}</ref> In March 2024 Ryan had warned that Ofsted activities had broadened in recent years, but the organisation's funding had fallen, putting the reliability of future inspections at risk.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reporter |first=Schools Week |date=2024-03-19 |title=Ofsted: Lack of cash 'compromises' inspection reliability |url=https://schoolsweek.co.uk/ofsted-constrained-funding-will-compromise-inspection-reliability/ |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=schoolsweek.co.uk |language=en-GB}}</ref> Ryan also oversaw a review of the board and governance of Ofsted.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Chantler-Hicks |first=Lydia |date=2025-03-11 |title=Sir Hamid Patel appointed interim Ofsted chair |url=https://schoolsweek.co.uk/sir-hamid-patel-appointed-interim-ofsted-chair/ |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=schoolsweek.co.uk |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Chair of the Ofsted Board to step down next year |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/chair-of-the-ofsted-board-to-step-down-next-year |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}</ref>
It was announced in 2024 that she would step down from Ofsted in 2025, to be replaced by interim director Sir Hamid Patel.<ref name=":1" /> Ryan's resignation occurred several months after the release of a 'damning report' of Ofsted from Dame Christine Gilbert, initiated after the death of head teacher Ruth Perry.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cumiskey |first=Lucas |date=2024-11-29 |title=Ofsted chair Dame Christine Ryan to step down |url=https://feweek.co.uk/ofsted-chair-dame-christine-ryan-to-step-down/ |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=feweek.co.uk |language=en-GB}}</ref>
Ryan is a co-founder of an education consultancy, Ryan and Grunsell.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Ryan and Grunsell |url=https://www.ryanandgrunsell.com/about |access-date=18 March 2021 |website=ryanandgrunsell |language=en}}</ref> She also chairs an education charity, TalentEd.<ref name="new" />
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ryan, Christine}} Category:Living people Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:British schoolteachers Category:Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire Category:Fellows of the Royal Society of Biology