A collection of essays on the history of the education inspectorate in Wales.Watchdogs or Visionaries? offers diverse perspectives on the history of the education inspectorate in Wales. Drawing on new interviews and archival research, these essays survey the 1839 origins of the “England and Wales” inspectorate through its independently Welsh iteration today. With special attention to expanding roles for women, contributors discuss reasons for and methods of inspection throughout history and the impact of findings on both curriculum and policymaking.