Executive Agency status enables operational independence and impartiality in individual inspections to be combined with direct accountability to Ministers for the overall standard of the work done and Ministers' ability to set a framework for the inspection process which ensures that it supports our strategic objectives for the education system.Executive Agencies do not have a separate legal status from the departments out of which they are formed; and Ministers remain fully accountable to the Parliament for the activities of the agency.The review also covered the other current functions of the Inspectorate: contributing to policy advice to Ministers; and leading the development and implementation of new policies.In addition to the contribution to policy advice which the Executive Agency will continue to make in collating and publishing evidence from inspections, there will also be a role for officials with professional experience as education practitioners to contribute to the internal advice which Ministers receive.