governors
20 things governors should know about school inspections
| How often does a school get inspected? | Schools get inspected about every three years |
| How long does an inspection last? | This depends on the size of the school but is never less than one day and is never more than two days. |
| Who is responsible for school inspections? | Ofsted is responsible for the inspection of state schools. Ofsted itself undertakes inspections but has contracted Regional Inspection Service Providers (RISPs) to undertake inspections on its behalf. |
| Who inspects schools? | Her Majesty’s Inspectors lead inspections for Ofsted and Additional Inspectors lead inspections for the RISPs. |
| How many inspectors are involved? | This depends on this size of the school. For small primary schools or special units it may be one inspector for one day. For large secondary schools is t could be five inspectors for two days. |
| Are all school inspected using the same criteria? | Yes - all schools are inspected against the same common inspection schedule. You can find this at Link to Every Child Matters: Framework for the inspection of schools in England form September 2005. |
| Are all inspections the same? | All inspections follow the same criteria but Ofsted identifies about a third of schools, based on their past record, to have a reduced tariff inspection. This means inspectors are only in school for one day irrespective of its size. |
| How much notice does a school get about an inspection? | The school will be contacted two clear working days before its inspection. |
| What should schools do to prepare for an inspection? | School are not required or expected to make any specific preparations for an inspection. There is no requirement for additional paperwork to absent to inspectors. Ofsted does provide schools with a school self evaluation form for them to complete which inspectors will analyse before the inspection. guidance on SEFs |
| What is the role of the governing body in completing the school’s self evaluation form? | It is up to a school to decide how it completes its self evaluation form. Reference is made to how well governors discharge their responsibilities under the section on leadership and management in the form. guidance on SEFs |
| How do inspectors prepare for an inspection? | Ofsted or the RISP provides the lead inspector with a copy of the previous inspection report, RAISEonline (a document of the most up-to-date national test and performance data available for the school) and a copy of the school’s self evaluation form (SEF) if available. The lead inspector analyses this information and writes a pre-inspection briefing which is sent to the school no later then 4pm the day before the inspection. This briefing helps drive the inspection as it includes hypotheses and issues to follow up during the inspection. |
| What do inspectors do on an inspection? | Inspectors analyse the school’s evaluation of its self and the pupils’ results and progress. They hold discussions with the headteacher, governors, staff and pupils. They consider the views of parents and carers. They observe lessons and look at school documentation. |
| How are governors involved in an inspection? | Governors are involved in the inspection both directly and indirectly. On most inspections the Chair of Governors or a representative(s) of the governing body will be interviewed by one to the inspection team. A selection of the records of governing body meetings is usually scrutinised. The Chair of Governors or a representative(s) of the governing body are often present at the final formal feedback of the inspectors to the school. |
| Our school has been judged Outstanding; when can we use the outstanding logo on our stationery? | Ofsted supply the art work and design guidance to outstanding providers when they publish their official list of outstanding providers which accompanies their annual report. Both are published yearly, usually around October. To give you an indication of time, a provider judged outstanding between September 2007 and August 2008, would be supplied art work and guidance in October 2008. |
| What do inspectors make judgements about? | The inspectors make an overall judgement about the effectiveness of the school. They also judge the pupils´ achievement and standards and personal development and well-being. They judge how well the school is led and managed, and also the quality of the teaching, curriculum, and care, support and guidance the school provides. |
| Is the quality of the governing body judged by the inspectors? | Yes – in the section on leadership and management, inspectors have to make a specific judgement about the governing body. Inspectors have to make a judgement about ‘The extent to which governors and other supervisory boards discharge their responsibilities’. |
| How are schools graded? | School are given a grade from 1 – 4.
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| What happens if a school is graded 4? |
A. If a school is graded 4 it is placed in one of the following two categories
Special measuresThis means the school does not provide its pupils with an acceptable standard of education, and is not showing the capacity to make the improvements needed. Inspectors will visit the school regularly to check its progress, until it can be removed from the category. The school will be reinspected after about two years.Notice to improveThis means either:
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| How are governors informed about the outcomes of an inspection? | It is up to schools to decide how they inform the governing body about the outcomes of the inspection before the publication of the report, remembering that the outcomes are confidential until publication. When it becomes available, the school should provide governors with a copy of the report. |
| Is the work of governors reported on? | It is requirement that a grade is given for how governors discharge their responsibilities in Annex A of the report. It is not a requirement that the work of governing body is reported in the text of the report, however in most reports reference is made to governing body’s work in the leadership and management section. |
| What if governors have concerns about the inspection? | Complaints about inspections are rare but are taken very seriously. You can find out more information at www.ofsted.gov.uk or by calling 08456 4040445 |