Leadership team
The HMIE Leadership Team currently comprises the following members:
Ruth Binks - HM Chief Inspector of Education
Ruth Binks is HM Chief Inspector of Education in Scotland and is responsible for the inspection of schools and other settings in Scotland.
Ruth was a professional musician and began her career in education as a primary teacher in the Highlands before serving as the headteacher at Croy Primary and Central Primary School. Ruth then took on senior leadership roles within Highland Council before moving to Inverclyde Council, where she became Corporate Director of Education, Communities, and Organisational Development.
Ruth joined as the first substantive Chief Inspector in accordance with the Education (Scotland) Act 2025, in March 2026.
Gill Ritchie - HM Inspector, Strategic Director
Gill leads the inspection of post-16 sectors, work-based learning, careers, prisons and community learning and development for youth and adults. Her responsibilities extend to special schools, independent schools, grant-aided schools, colleges, and independent training providers.
Gill coordinates joint activity with scrutiny bodies such as His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons Scotland (HMIPS), Care Inspectorate and QAA Scotland, and liaises with the Registrar for Independent Schools, the Scottish Funding Council, Student Awards Agency Scotland and the Home Office (UKVI). A critical aspect of her role includes overseeing child protection and safeguarding. She also manages the inspectorate's enabling functions, encompassing the administration of all inspection programmes, workforce planning and deployment, as well as handling official correspondence.
Patricia Watson - Strategic Director, Inspection
Patricia has over 35 years’ experience in Scottish education. A graduate of University of Stirling and with an MEd from University of Edinburgh, she started her career in 1986 as a secondary teacher of religious and moral education in the Scottish Borders and progressed to a senior role within the local authority.
Prior to becoming HM Inspector of Education in 2007, she worked with Learning and Teaching Scotland on the introduction of Curriculum for Excellence. She was a principal assessor for the Scottish Qualifications Authority for a number of years, leading the introduction and development of intermediate 1 and 2 qualifications in RMPS. Within HMIE and with Education Scotland, Patricia led a range of significant national initiatives including some key recommendations from Teaching Scotland’s Future, the development of the current (4th edition) of the quality indicator framework “How Good Is Our School?” and as Senior Regional Advisor, the development of regional improvement collaboratives, working with Tayside RIC and the West Partnership. Between 2019-2024 she led our work on the Scottish Attainment Challenge as senior responsible officer working closely with the Attainment Advisors.
As Strategic Director for Inspection from February 2024, Patricia has responsibility for the inspection of early learning and childcare settings, as well as the wide range of public schools, including primary, secondary, Gaelic, and all-through schools. She is responsible for inspections of health and nutrition in public schools. A crucial part of Patricia’s remit is to lead the inspectorate’s response to the Scottish Attainment Challenge. She will also be responsible for developing our contribution to the Curriculum Improvement Cycle, including gathering evidence about curriculum areas. Additionally, Patricia oversees the performance of local authorities, including changes in school estates.