Inspection reports

OFSTED is the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills. It is a non-ministerial department. Ofsted inspects and regulates services that care for children and young people, and services providing education and skills for learners of all ages.

The Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) is an independent, government-approved body which provides objective inspections to safeguard the quality and effectiveness of the education, care and welfare of children in schools. ISI is not an arm of the government, but an independent, not-for-profit inspectorate. Their work is monitored on behalf of the Department for Education (DfE) and a public report is made annually to the Secretary of State.

Ofsted and ISI inspect schools to provide an independent assessment of the quality and standards of education in schools, and check whether pupils are achieving as much as they can.

Both Ofsted and ISI are monitored on behalf of the DfE and provide an unbiased, reliable and objective account of a school’s provision and outcomes for pupils.

All schools in England are inspected at the direction of the Department for Education (the DfE). The DfE can request Ofsted to inspect a school at any time. Independent schools registered with the Independent Schools Council can also request to be inspected by the ISI.

Ofsted – The frequency of inspection is dependent on the findings of a school’s most recent inspection.  Schools judged “outstanding” by Ofsted will exempt from routine inspection, unless there is a dip in performance or specific concerns are raised.

ISI – Independent schools that fall within ISI’s remit are normally inspected every three to six years

Ofsted 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 children and learners

Ofsted gives schools an overall grade from 1 to 4:

• grade 1 (outstanding)
• grade 2 (good)
• grade 3 (requires improvement)
• grade 4 (inadequate)

For Integrated Inspections ISI uses grades as part of the report. ISI does not make a single overarching judgement on a school but instead makes a clear judgement on each aspect of its provision and outcomes for pupils using one of the following four grades:

• Excellent
• Good
• Sound
• Unsatisfactory

In the context of pupils’ achievements the grade Exceptional may also be used.

ISI does not use the same judgement words as Ofsted – see Comparing Reports for more information.