Primary Education

01My contribution

Working with the department’s existing auditors and key management teams, we developed a risk register and prioritised risks through participatory workshops. These discussions connected audit planning with the department’s objectives and operational challenges.

02Key observations from the workshops

Through these discussions, I observed gaps between the department’s core objectives—improving education quality, increasing attendance and retaining pupils—and the priorities reflected in its systems and day-to-day activities.

• Independent evaluation of curriculum: Curriculum design appeared to sit outside the scope of independent review and evaluation, limiting opportunities for objective assessment of its effectiveness.
• Teacher preparedness: Teacher training was insufficiently linked to curriculum changes, creating a risk that teachers would not receive the support needed to deliver revised content effectively.
• Operational priorities: Recruitment and transfers appeared to receive greater management attention than systematic oversight of education quality, attendance and retention.

These are professional observations arising from workshop discussions, rather than a claim that subsequent improvements have been implemented.

03Value delivered

The risk register and prioritisation process provided a structured basis for focusing audit attention on risks to educational outcomes, alongside administrative and compliance risks. The workshops also brought auditors and management together to examine whether existing arrangements supported the department’s intended results.

04What this experience brings to clients

I help organisations connect risk assessment and audit priorities to their core purpose, identify gaps between operational activity and intended outcomes, and develop a clearer basis for management action and independent assurance.