Estyn (Welsh (verb): to extend) is the office of Her Majesty's Inspectorate for Education and Training in Wales. It is funded by the National Assembly for Wales, though is independent from it.
Estyn is responsible for school inspections, and reporting on school achievement for all levels of compulsory education as well as pre-schools, government-funded training programmes, and further education colleges, including adult education. Estyn is based in Cardiff. As of 2008, the chief inspector is Bill Maxwell.
Estyn's specified aim, as quoted on its website, is "to raise standards and quality of education and training in Wales through inspection and advice, in support of the vision and strategic direction set out by the Welsh Assembly Government."
Its stated objectives are to deliver high quality inspection of individual education and training providers, and related services, in Wales; and to provide independent and sound advice, based on inspection evidence, to inform the Welsh Assembly Government in the formulation and evaluation of education and training policy.
The equivalent body in Scotland is HMIE, and in England, Ofsted.
