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Press release: Documents published for new school inspection arrangements in January

Associated resources

The three main documents for Ofsted’s new arrangements for school inspection, due to commence in January 2012, have been published today. Available on the Ofsted website, they include the inspection framework, the evaluation schedule and guidance on how inspections should be conducted.

Also available, to assist schools in preparing for inspection, are a series of short videos, PowerPoint presentations and detailed ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ (FAQs). These are all designed to ensure that details of the new arrangements are clearly explained.

Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Miriam Rosen, said:

‘The full set of documents now available, explain how the new arrangements will operate. Available online, they provide comprehensive information for teachers, governors, parents and everyone involved, or interested, in school inspection.

‘The inspection process has been streamlined to focus on what matters most to pupils, parents and schools. Inspectors will be able to spend even more time in the classroom observing teaching and learning, with a particular focus on reading and behaviour.

‘The new arrangements will continue to help drive up standards in schools, by identifying strengths and weaknesses, and focusing on those areas that will improve standards more quickly.’

Building on the strengths of the current system, the new arrangements aim to ensure inspection has an even stronger impact on driving improvements in the quality of education and raising achievement for all pupils. 

Inspectors will concentrate on four key areas: the achievement of pupils; the quality of teaching; the effectiveness of leadership and management; and, standards of behaviour and safety in schools.

From January, Ofsted will be adopting an increasingly proportionate approach to inspection, targeting those schools that most need to improve. Outstanding schools will no longer be subject to regular inspections unless risk assessment raises concerns about their performance. They will however continue to have subject and thematic inspections which will help identify the best practice. Good schools will continue to be inspected in a five year cycle, with satisfactory schools inspected every three years unless particular concerns emerge. 

Risk assessment of good and outstanding schools will identify if performance has declined and an inspection needs to take place. There will also be more routine monitoring visits of satisfactory schools which do not appear to be improving; alongside a continuing programme of regular monitoring for schools in a category of concern.

As part of the risk assessment of schools, as well as looking at a range of performance information that includes test and examination results, Ofsted will also consider the views of parents and carers about their child’s school in response to the new questionnaire on the Ofsted website, ‘ParentView’, a new voice for parents, launched in October - www.parentview.ofsted.gov.uk.

Notes to editors

1. The framework and evaluation schedule for inspection are published on Ofsted’s website www.ofsted.gov.uk. Additional resources outlining what to expect during an inspection will also be available.
2. The new arrangements reflect provisions in the Education Act now approved by Parliament and follow extensive consultation and detailed piloting of the proposals in schools.
3. The range of grading judgments – from inadequate to outstanding; the duration and notice periods for inspection will remain the same.
4. The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted) regulates and inspects to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.
5. Media can contact the Ofsted Press Office through 020 7421 5911 or via Ofsted's enquiry line 0300 1231231 between 8.30am - 6.00pm Monday - Friday. Out of these hours, during evenings and weekends, the duty press officer can be reached on 07919 057359.

Associated resources

• The framework for school inspection from January 2012: an introduction

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