Lee Owston was appointed National Director, Education in January 2024. Since joining Ofsted as one of His Majesty’s Inspectors (HMI) in 2013, Lee has held various deputy director roles across early years, schools, teacher development and special educational needs and/or disabilities. He has also been a senior HMI in Ofsted’s North East, Yorkshire and Humber region and held specialist adviser roles linked to registered early years provision, inspector training and His Majesty’s Chief Inspector’s accountability unit. Before joining Ofsted, Lee held senior leadership positions in schools, was senior adviser for early education and primary schools in a local authority and was regional director for the national strategies, where he contributed to national publications on English, phonics and assessment.