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Guidance: Inspecting non-association independent schools

Ofsted

September 23
08:30 2022

Introduction

Ofsted inspects independent schools that are not members of associations. These are known as non-association independent schools. Independent schools that are members of associations are normally inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate.

Non-association independent schools can use this guide to help prepare when we notify them about an inspection, including timings, notice that we give, the process and what happens after the visit.

Routine standard inspections

We inspect non-association independent schools at the direction of the Department for Education (DfE), which is the registration authority for all independent schools. The DfE can request that we inspect a non-association independent school at any time. Occasionally, the DfE may commission Ofsted to carry out an inspection of an independent school that is normally inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate. In this guidance, an inspection commissioned by the DfE means an inspection that HMCI is directed to carry out by the Secretary of State.

A 3-year cycle of standard inspections of non-association independent schools (schools) began in September 2018. Standard inspections are carried out under our education inspection framework (EIF) and the Independent School Standards.

We will normally re-inspect schools judged to be requires improvement and inadequate in a standard inspection within 2 years. In addition, these schools may also receive a progress monitoring inspection before their next standard inspection.

We will normally re-inspect a school within 2 years if we were unable to make an overall effectiveness judgement at its most recent standard inspection due to there being no pupils on roll at the time.

When a school transfers from being inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate to being inspected by Ofsted, we will normally inspect it within 3 years of the Independent Schools Inspectorates most recent educational quality with focused compliance inspection.

We may bring forward a standard inspection of a school to update the schools graded judgements following an additional inspection. This may happen when:

  • a requires improvement or inadequate school is judged at a progress monitoring inspection to meet all previously failed independent school standards
  • a good or outstanding school is judged to no longer meet the independent school standards at an emergency or material change inspection

We inspect boarding provision of independent boarding schools every 3 years. There may be an aligned inspection if both the standard and boarding inspections are due at the same time.

We usually carry out an aligned inspection of independent residential special schools every 3 years. We also inspect their residential provision annually.

Inspections can take place at any point from 5 school days after the first day that pupils attend in the autumn term. For example, if pupils return to school on a Wednesday, 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.

If a school requests a deferral of its inspection because there are no pupils on roll, and the DfE is already taking regulatory or enforcement action against the school, the inspection will not be deferred. In addition, if the inspection of a school has been deferred previously because there were no pupils on roll, it will not be deferred for a second consecutive time.

We charge schools a fee for each standard inspection that they receive.

Schools requesting an inspection

Unlike other schools inspected under the EIF, independent schools are not able to request an inspection outside of the usual inspection cycle, as set out above.

Who inspects schools?

School inspectors are:

  • His Majestys Inspectors (HMI) employed directly by Ofsted
  • social care regulatory inspectors employed directly by Ofsted
  • contracted Ofsted Inspectors

Meeting the inspectors

For all types of independent schools inspections, inspectors will expect the proprietor(s) and the person(s) responsible for the day-to-day operation of the school to be present during the inspection.

Without meeting these individuals, inspectors may not be able to gather sufficient evidence in order to judge whether the school meets paragraph 34(1) of the independent school standards, which concerns the quality of leadership and management.

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.

Notice of an inspection

For standard inspections, we will normally notify the school around lunchtime on the day before the start of the inspection. The inspection will typically start in the early afternoon of the following day.

We may also carry out standard inspections without notice. In these cases, we will not give the school notice. We carry out all progress monitoring and emergency inspections without notice.

Before the inspection begins

We provide schools with a letter to tell all parents of pupils at the school about the inspection and options for providing their views. We also ask schools to notify other relevant bodies, including those providing alternative provision for pupils, of the inspection.

Inspectors will look at Ofsted Parent View to see the views of parents.

Inspectors will also take into account the results of any past parent surveys, or other surveys, carried out by the school. Parents can tell Ofsted about their childs school at any time using Ofsted Parent View.

During the inspection

The inspection will not normally last longer than 3 days.

Inspectors will spend most of their time gathering evidence to inform judgements and to check the schools compliance with the independent school standards. They will gather evidence in a range of ways. They will talk to pupils about important aspects of the schools work, observe teaching in lessons, and will scrutinise the schools records and documentation.

Inspectors will make their final judgements when they have collected and considered all the evidence.

The lead inspector will meet the headteacher regularly throughout the inspection and will ensure that the headteacher and senior staff:

  • are kept up to date about the inspection
  • understand how the inspection team reaches its judgements
  • have opportunities to clarify how evidence is used to reach judgements
  • are given the opportunity to present evidence

Inspectors will invite the schools headteacher, curriculum leaders and other leaders to take part in joint visits to lessons, as agreed with the lead inspector.

Inspectors will also invite the headteacher to attend the final team meeting at the end of the inspection.

Inspectors will give oral feedback to teachers and other staff about the work that they see.

Judging the quality of education in schools with a specialist curriculum

We recognise that some schools offer a specialist curriculum. For example, some schools offer a specialist faith-based curriculum, while others offer a specialist education in the performing arts. This may be separate or in addition to any provision made for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

Alongside any specialist education provided, paragraph 2(2)(a) of the independent school standards requires that pupils study a broad, rich curriculum. Schools should provide inspectors with evidence of how they meet this requirement.

Inspectors will assess a schools entire provision, including any specialist provision offered, when assessing compliance with the independent school standards and when reaching judgements.

When reaching a judgement under the quality of education judgement area, inspectors will work with sch

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