When do inspections happen and how long do they last? A school that was judged to be outstanding at its last inspection is exempt from routine inspection. We will not normally inspect exempt schools unless we have a concern about their performance. Ofsted will also carry out an annual assessment of an exempt school’s performance (from the third year after the school’s last inspection) to determine whether an inspection might be necessary. Exempt schools continue to be inspected as part of Ofsted’s programme of surveys of curriculum subjects and aspects of the curriculum. Exemption from inspection does not apply to maintained nursery schools, special schools or pupil referral units. A school judged to be good at its last inspection normally receives a short inspection (see section on inspections’ below). ‘short A school judged as requires improvement at its last inspection is a school that is not yet good but overall provides an acceptable standard of education. The school is inspected again within a period of 30 months. Where a school has been judged as requires improvement at two successive inspections, it will be subject to monitoring from inspectors to check its progress and is inspected again within a period of 30 months. A standard inspection usually lasts two days and the number of inspectors on the inspection team will vary according to the size and nature of the school. What judgements do inspectors make? Inspectors will make graded judgements on the following areas using the four-point scale: Effectiveness of leadership and management Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Personal development, behaviour and welfare Outcomes for pupils. Where applicable, inspectors will also make a graded judgement on the effectiveness of the early years or sixth form provision in the school. We give schools an overall grade from 1 to 4: grade 1 (outstanding) 2 (good) grade 3 (requires improvement) grade 4 (inadequate).
When do inspections happen and how long do they last? A school that was judged to be outstanding at its last inspection is exempt from routine inspection. We will not normally inspect exempt schools unless we have a concern about their performance. Ofsted will also carry out an annual assessment of an exempt school’s performance (from the third year after the school’s last inspection) to determine whether an inspection might be necessary. Exempt schools continue to be inspected as part of Ofsted’s programme of surveys of curriculum subjects and aspects of the curriculum. Exemption from inspection does not apply to maintained nursery schools, special schools or pupil referral units. A school judged to be good at its last inspection normally receives a short inspection (see section on ‘short inspections’ below). A school judged as requires improvement at its last inspection is a school that is not yet good but overall provides an acceptable standard of education. The school is inspected again within a period of 30 months. Where a school has been judged as requires improvement at two successive inspections, it will be subject to monitoring from inspectors to check its progress and is inspected again within a period of 30 months. A standard inspection usually lasts two days and the number of inspectors on the inspection team will vary according to the size and nature of the school. What judgements do inspectors make? Inspectors will make graded judgements on the following areas using the four-point scale: Effectiveness of leadership and management Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Personal development, behaviour and welfare Outcomes for pupils. Where applicable, inspectors will also make a graded judgement on the effectiveness of the early years or sixth form provision in the school. We give schools an overall grade from 1 to 4: grade 1 (outstanding) 2 (good) grade 3 (requires improvement) grade 4 (inadequate).
School_inspections_-_a_guide_for_parents_May_2018.docx