Ofsted
Introduction
Schools can use this guide to help them understand the inspection process, including timings, notice that we give, judgements that we make and what happens after the visit to the school.
Conduct during Ofsted inspections
Ofsteds code of conduct sets out the expectations for both inspectors and schools. At the start of the inspection (usually during the preparatory conversations), the lead inspector will explain these expectations and will ask schools to read the code.
Inspectors will uphold the highest professional standards in their work. They will treat everyone they meet during inspections fairly and with the respect and sensitivity they deserve. Inspectors will work constructively with leaders and staff, demonstrating professionalism, courtesy, empathy and respect at all times.
Timings of inspections
Inspections can take place at any point from 5 school days after the first day pupils attend in the autumn term. For example, if pupils return to school on a Wednesday, an inspection can take place as early as the following Wednesday.
A school can request to defer or cancel an inspection, but only in exceptional circumstances. If pupils are receiving education in the school, an inspection will usually go ahead.
How often we inspect a school normally depends on the findings of its previous inspection, as outlined below. However, the situation is currently a bit more complicated, for several reasons, including:
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the pause to inspections during the pandemic meant that we have extended the inspection window for many schools
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the government lifted the inspection exemption for outstanding schools; this added 3,000 schools to our schedule, many of which have not been inspected for a decade or more
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the government has also asked us to inspect every school at least once before August 2025
This means that the gaps between inspections may be different for your school.
We inspect schools under section 5 or section 8 of the Education Act 2005 (as amended).
New schools
We usually inspect all new schools, including academies, in the first 3 years after they open. This normally happens in the schools third year. New schools that opened before September 2020 and that have not had their first inspection can expect to be inspected by their fifth year of operation. This is due to the suspension of routine inspection activity as a result of COVID-19.
Read guidance on how we select new schools for inspection.
Schools judged good or outstanding for overall effectiveness before September 2024
Until September 2024, graded inspections of schools included an overall effectiveness grade in addition to the key judgements and any provision judgements. Overall effectiveness grades given before September 2024 will continue to be visible on school inspection reports and on Ofsteds website.
From September 2024, graded inspections will not include an overall effectiveness grade. Schools inspected from then will not have the same way of working out when to expect their next inspection as other schools. We will set out the expected dates for when we will next inspect these schools from September 2025. They should not expect to receive an ungraded or graded inspection before then. Some could receive an urgent or monitoring inspection, which can be deemed a graded inspection.
A school judged good or outstanding for overall effectiveness at its most recent inspection before September 2024 will normally receive an inspection approximately every 4 years. This is to confirm that the school has taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection. We call this an ungraded inspection, and it is carried out under section 8 of the Education Act 2005. We do not give graded key or provision judgements on an ungraded inspection. However, if we find some evidence that a schools work has improved significantly, or that it may not be as strong as it was at the last inspection, we will carry out a full inspection with graded judgements. We call this a graded inspection, and it is carried out under section 5 of the Education Act. Usually this is within 1 to 2 years of the date of the ungraded inspection, but if we have serious concerns about a school, for example in relation to safeguarding, we will deem the ungraded inspection a graded inspection immediately.
However, some schools judged good or outstanding for overall effectiveness before September 2024 will automatically receive a graded inspection. We use a risk assessment process to ensure that our approach to inspection is proportionate, in order to focus our efforts on where we can have the greatest impact.
Schools judged outstanding for overall effectiveness before September 2024 that were formerly exempt from routine inspections
Between 15 May 2012 and 13 November 2020, maintained primary and secondary schools and academies judged to be outstanding in their overall effectiveness at their most recent graded inspection were exempt from routine inspections. These schools are now once again subject to routine inspections. This also applies to academy converter schools that were formerly exempt because the overall effectiveness of the predecessor school was outstanding at its most recent graded inspection. (Academy converter schools are schools that have been approved by the Secretary of State to convert to become an academy.)
All formerly exempt schools will receive an initial graded or ungraded inspection by July 2025. Those schools that received their last graded inspection before September 2015 will receive an initial graded inspection. Those that received their last graded inspection after this date will normally receive an initial ungraded inspection. If that ungraded inspection indicates that aspects of the schools work may not be as strong as at the time of the previous inspection, we will normally carry out a graded inspection within the next 12 months or as soon as possible after that. In all cases, this will be before 1 August 2026.
Schools judged requires improvement for overall effectiveness before September 2024
A school judged as requires improvement for overall effectiveness at its last inspection before September 2024 will usually receive a graded inspection again within 2.5 years.
From September 2024, if a school meets our threshold for monitoring (as set out in the school inspection handbook) it will be eligible for routine monitoring from inspectors to check its progress. We will carry out a graded inspection again within a period of 2.5 years of the publication of the previous graded inspection report.
Schools judged inadequate for any key or provision judgement
When we judge a school as inadequate for any key or provision judgement, we place the school in a category of concern. This means that we judge the school either to have serious weaknesses or to require special measures.
The Secretary of State for Education will issue an academy order to a maintained school judged inadequate and placed in a category of concern. The school will then become a sponsored academy. We will not usually monitor the school unless there are safeguarding concerns or there is a delay in the school becoming a sponsored academy.
If an academy is placed in a category of concern, we will monitor it. If an academy is subsequently rebrokered to a new multi-academy trust to become a new sponsored academy, we will not usually carry out any monitoring inspections.
If an academy is judged as having serious weaknesses or requiring special measures, and if it is not rebrokered to a new multi-academy trust, we will monitor the school to check its progress. We will then carry out a graded inspection within 2.5 years of the publication of the academys previous graded inspection report.
If a maintained nursery school or a non-maintained special school is placed in a category of concern, we will monitor it in the same way as an academy that is in a category of concern and that is not re-brokered to a new sponsor trust.
Who inspects schools?
School inspectors are:
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His Majestys Inspectors (HMI) employed directly by Ofsted
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contracted Ofsted Inspectors
Notice of an inspection
We will contact the school by telephone to announce a graded or ungraded inspection after 9.30am on a Monday morning. We may notify schools of an urgent or monitoring inspection on any day. If we have notified a school of an i