Ofsted and other inspection
Contents
Highlights from school evaluation and improvement
2 articles
Evidence and documents for inspection
- How Ofsted gathers evidence about pupil experience Ofsted inspectors don't expect to see written pupil case studies. Understand how Ofsted will learn about and evaluate pupil experiences of your school, including which pupil groups and topics they're likely to focus on.
- How to present safeguarding referrals to Ofsted Ofsted will ask to see a list of safeguarding referrals made to your DSL. Get expert advice on presenting this information, and see examples of forms other schools use to record referrals.
29 articles
Inspection criteria
- Attendance: what Ofsted is looking for Ofsted will consider your attendance data when making specific judgements. Understand what evidence inspectors will want to look at, and what they want to see in 'outstanding' and 'good' schools.
- 'Cultural capital': expanding narrow definitions Prepare your pupils for life in modern Britain by providing 'cultural capital' that celebrates all cultures, and reflects your community and the country's diversity.
- 'Cultural capital': what Ofsted is looking for Ofsted will consider ‘cultural capital’ when assessing your quality of education, but what does this actually mean? Read on to find out how inspectors will evaluate it in your school.
- Health and safety: how to show Ofsted you're fulfilling your duties Ofsted doesn't have set criteria for evaluating health and safety, but inspectors will report on any failure to comply with statutory requirements. Be clear on your obligations, and good practice, so you feel ready if Ofsted asks.
- How Ofsted inspects 'behaviour and attitudes' Learn how Ofsted inspects 'behaviour and attitudes' in a graded inspection under the Ofsted inspection framework. This judgement covers behaviour, attendance, exclusion and attitudes to learning.
- How Ofsted inspects early years education Learn how Ofsted inspects your EYFS provision. This judgement covers nursery, reception, provision for 2 and 3 year-olds, and wraparound care.
- How Ofsted inspects governance Get to grips with how governance is inspected under the Ofsted framework, and the role of governors on inspection day.
- How Ofsted inspects 'leadership and management' Understand which parts of school leadership and management will be judged under the Ofsted inspection framework. See what evidence you can provide and read a summary of the grade descriptors.
- How Ofsted inspects 'personal development' Learn how Ofsted inspects 'personal development' under the Ofsted framework, including how SMSC development is considered. Download our list of questions inspectors might ask, including ones about British values.
- How Ofsted inspects safeguarding Understand what Ofsted expects to see in your safeguarding arrangements, and what evidence inspectors will collect during an inspection. Download our list of questions Ofsted might ask about child protection, including how you handle sexual harassment and abuse in your school.
- How Ofsted inspects sixth forms Understand how Ofsted will inspect sixth form provision under the 2023 framework.
- How Ofsted inspects your curriculum Ofsted's 'quality of education' measure puts your curriculum in the spotlight. Understand how inspectors will judge your intent, implementation and impact, and the evidence they'll consider. Also see what's changed now that the transition period has ended.
- How Ofsted inspects your provision for 'disadvantaged' pupils Learn how Ofsted defines 'disadvantaged' pupils and considers how well your provision supports these pupils.
- How Ofsted will assess RSE Relationships and sex education (RSE) won't be inspected on its own – instead, Ofsted will look at how you're meeting statutory requirements for RSE, and consider this within your 'personal development' and 'leadership and management' judgements.
- Ofsted changes for the 2023/24 academic year: summary Be clear on the changes Ofsted has made to its inspection handbook for September 2023, so you can keep on top of what's new.
- Ofsted 'deep dive' questions Download our list of 'deep dive' questions, based on previous inspections, for subject leaders and teachers to see what Ofsted inspectors might ask in a subject 'deep dive'.
- Ofsted 'deep dives': art and design Understand how Ofsted inspectors do an art and design 'deep dive' and see what they might ask by downloading our list of questions based on previous inspections.
- Ofsted 'deep dives': computing Find out what evidence inspectors will look at during a computing ‘deep dive’, and what questions they might ask. Download our list of questions to help you prepare.
- Ofsted 'deep dives': English Understand how Ofsted inspectors do English and reading 'deep dives' and see what they might ask by downloading our list of questions based on previous inspections.
- Ofsted 'deep dives': geography Find out what Ofsted inspectors might ask during a geography 'deep dive'. Download our list of questions to help you speak confidently about geography with inspectors.
- Ofsted 'deep dives': history Find out how Ofsted inspectors do a history 'deep dive' and see what they might ask by downloading our list of questions based on previous inspections.
- Ofsted 'deep dives': maths Find out what evidence inspectors will look at during a maths 'deep dive', and what they might ask. Download our list of questions to help you prepare.
- Ofsted 'deep dives': modern foreign languages (MFL) Find out what evidence Ofsted inspectors look for in a modern foreign languages 'deep dive', and download our list of questions so you're prepared.
- Ofsted 'deep dives': PE Find out what Ofsted inspectors might ask during a PE 'deep dive'. Download our list of questions to help you speak confidently about PE with inspectors.
- Ofsted 'deep dives': PSHE Understand how Ofsted inspectors carry out PSHE 'deep dives' and see what they might ask by downloading our list of questions based on previous inspections.
- Ofsted 'deep dives': science Find out how Ofsted inspectors do a science 'deep dive'. Download our list of questions they might ask you so you can feel confident talking about your subject with inspectors.
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Ofsted 'summary evaluations' of trusts: explainer
Summary evaluations are Ofsted's approach to gathering findings about a trust. Find out what happens at each stage of the process, what Ofsted will expect of you and your leadership team and what it's likely to consider.
For Trust Leaders
- Questions Ofsted might ask you based on your subject Get a handle on what Ofsted could ask you and your colleagues about a subject during a 'deep dive', all in one place. See what inspectors could ask about art, computing, English, geography, history, maths, modern foreign languages, PE, PSHE, and science.
- School policies: what Ofsted is looking for Ofsted inspectors won't grade your policies, but they'll want to know how you're implementing them. Find out what inspectors would want to see from your school.
2 articles
Inspection criteria: teaching and learning
- How Ofsted inspects SEND provision See how Ofsted inspects SEND provision in special schools and mainstream schools with SEND provision. Find out what inspectors look for, how they gather evidence, and how they assess outcomes.
- Teaching assistants' role in Ofsted inspections Inspectors won't judge individual teaching assistants – they're more interested in how effectively you use them. However, your TAs might get asked about safeguarding and behaviour. Find out what Ofsted expects from TAs so you can be prepared.
4 articles
Inspection processes and procedures
- Ofsted inspection: letter to your school community about the result Whatever the result, save time with our template letters so you can clearly explain the outcome of your school's latest Ofsted inspection and grading to your school community.
- Ofsted inspection: role of the school business manager (SBM) SBMs have an important role to play during an Ofsted inspection. Find out how you may be involved on the day, and what you can do to help your school prepare.
- Ofsted inspectors: ID and DBS checks When the Ofsted inspection team arrive, you need to check their identification but not their DBS information. Read our article to find out more.
- Your step-by-step guide to a graded Ofsted inspection Find out what happens before, during and after a graded Ofsted inspection under the 2019 framework, and understand what's expected of you at each step.
8 articles
Preparing for inspection
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How to follow up an Ofsted inspection at one of your schools
Follow our guide for trust leaders so that you can provide effective support to your schools after they've been inspected by Ofsted. We go through the steps you should take whether your school is judged 'outstanding' or 'inadequate'.
For Trust Leaders
- How to keep governors Ofsted-ready Update your board regularly on what's going on in your school. If governors are up to speed, they'll feel more ready for an Ofsted inspection. Share our list of questions so they know what inspectors might ask them.
- Ofsted inspection: curriculum FAQs Not sure how Ofsted will inspect your curriculum? Get answers to frequently asked questions under the 2019 framework.
- Ofsted inspection: curriculum FAQs for small schools, special schools, PRUs and AP settings Not sure how the 2019 framework applies to your setting? Get answers to frequently asked questions about curriculum inspection in schools like yours.
- Ofsted pre-inspection checklist and reminders You've received the call from Ofsted that you’re going to be inspected. Download our checklist for headteachers to see what to prepare before they arrive, and share reminders and support with the rest of your staff.
- Role of school office staff in an Ofsted inspection Support staff may be interviewed by Ofsted inspectors. Find out what they should know and how your office team can support with inspection preparations.
- Section 48 inspections If your school has a designated religious character, you'll receive section 48 inspections on top of standard Ofsted inspections. Be clear on what these inspections are and how they work, so you can be confident in what to expect.
- SIAMS inspections: what you need to know Get ready for your next SIAMS inspection under the 2023 framework and check you're clear on the relationship between these inspections and those conducted by Ofsted.
8 articles
Questions Ofsted might ask
- Questions Ofsted might ask about attendance and inclusion Download our list of questions Ofsted inspectors might ask about attendance and inclusion, including questions based on your school's data.
- Questions Ofsted might ask EYFS staff Share these questions with your Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) staff so they can prepare for an inspection under the 2021 framework. Each question includes suggestions of evidence they could use to support their answers.
- Questions Ofsted might ask headteachers and the senior leadership team (SLT) Download our list of questions Ofsted inspectors might ask. You'll find questions related to your curriculum, your approach to attendance and behaviour issues, including sexual harassment, and how you've supported staff wellbeing.
- Questions Ofsted might ask middle leaders Download our list of questions Ofsted inspectors might ask. You'll find questions related to each area of the inspection framework to help you feel confident when talking to inspectors.
- Questions Ofsted might ask SBMs Learn what questions Ofsted inspectors might ask school business managers (SBMs) during an inspection under the Ofsted framework, and read some tips for preparing for inspection.
- Questions Ofsted might ask SENCOs Download our list of questions to find out what Ofsted inspectors might ask you as a special educational needs co-ordinator (SENCO). You'll also find questions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and tips on how to make the most of your inspection meeting.
- Questions Ofsted might ask teachers Share our list of questions with your teachers, so they feel prepared for whatever inspectors might ask about.
- Questions Ofsted might ask you based on your role Get an idea of what Ofsted could ask you and your colleagues all in one place, so you feel confident talking to inspectors. Find out what they could ask headteachers and SLT, middle leaders, SENCOs, teachers, SBMs and EYFS staff.
7 articles
The inspection system
- Frequency of Ofsted inspections Find out how often Ofsted inspects schools and get an idea of when your next inspection will be (including the current timings due to the pandemic).
- How Ofsted inspects alternative provision Learn how Ofsted inspects pupil referral units (PRUs) and alternative provision (AP) academies. Also find information covering inspection of off-site units and residential provision.
- Inspection judgements: Ofsted grade descriptors Use our side-by-side comparison of Ofsted grade descriptors, which reflect the September 2023 School Inspection Handbook updates, to understand the criteria inspectors use to make their judgements.
- Ofsted inspection framework: what it means for your school Get to grips with the current inspection framework and the 4 judgement areas that inspectors will look at. Understand the difference between 'intent', 'implementation' and 'impact', and use our prompts to make sure you're on top of these key curriculum concepts.
- Ofsted inspection of schools rated ‘requires improvement’ If your school is rated 'requires improvement', you may receive a monitoring inspection before your next graded inspection. Understand what happens during a monitoring inspection and when Ofsted is likely to inspect you next.
- Ofsted mythbuster Can headteachers join deep dives? Do schools need a certain level of staff absence to be granted a deferral? Read our mythbuster to get clarity on a range of questions about how Ofsted inspects your school.
- Ungraded inspections for 'good' and 'outstanding' schools Get a handle on what happens before, during and after an ungraded inspection (previously known as a section 8 inspection), and what Ofsted will be looking for, so you and your staff feel ready.
