One of the Academies I cover for H&S is receiving an inspection visit where the reason for the visit is stated to be "As I explained this visit forms part of a national and regional project looking at various schools outside of local authority control". I have no problem with a visit but am unable to find any other information on this project and the other 2 academies I cover have not received any notification to date. Has anyone come across this in the recent past? with thanks

Ofsted visit Academies; are you sure it's not them?

As already suggested, ask the academy involved to find out who is coming to do what sort of inspection. It's worth mentioning that HSE have a programme for inspectors to pay visits by arrangement to a sample number of schools throughout the UK to check on arrangements for managing asbestos. From joining such a visit to one of my employer's schools back in January I understood that HSE had generated a list of schools to be visited and that it included one school per local authority. It it is likely that the list also includes academies and other independent schools. Therefore, the mystery visit could be one proposed by HSE about asbestos. Even if HSE are not involved in this case, it is still appropriate to mention the ongoing HSE asbestos programme for the benefit of forum users who are involved with schools and might not already know of it. Among other things, the inspectors paying such special visits will assess the adequacy of a school management's understanding of asbestos, ask for and peruse relevant records, including asbestos survey reports, and also look at locations where asbestos containing materials are know to be present.