Collection

Education inspection framework

Ofsted's new education inspection framework applies to maintained schools and academies, non-association independent schools, further education and skills providers and early years settings.

Published 16 January 2019
Last updated 27 September 2019 — see all updates

• From: Ofsted

Ofsted consulted on the draft education inspection framework and proposed handbooks between January and April 2019.

We published the new framework and handbooks on 14 May 2019 along with a consultation outcome report.

Guidance for inspectors

1. Education inspection framework (EIF)
   • 2 September 2019
   • Guidance
2. Inspecting the curriculum
   • 14 May 2019
   • Guidance
3. Inspecting safeguarding in early years, education and skills settings
   • 2 September 2019
   • Guidance

Handbooks for inspectors

1. Early years inspection handbook
   • 2 September 2019
   • Guidance
2. School inspection handbook
   • 1 November 2019
   • Guidance
3. Section 8 school inspection handbook
   • 1 November 2019
   • Guidance
4. Independent schools inspection handbook
   • 25 October 2019
   • Guidance
5. Further education and skills inspection handbook
   • 14 May 2019
   • Guidance

Guidance for providers

1. Inspecting schools: guide for maintained and academy schools
   • 6 September 2019
   • Guidance
2. Risk assessment methodology for maintained schools and academies
   • 27 September 2019
   • Guidance
3. Selecting new schools for inspection
   • 2 September 2019
   • Guidance
4. Inspecting further education and skills: guide for providers
   • 30 August 2019
   • Guidance
5. Risk assessment methodology for further education and skills providers
   • 27 September 2019
   • Guidance

Consultation

1. Education inspection framework 2019: inspecting the substance of education
   • 29 July 2019
   • Consultation outcome

Research

1. Education inspection framework: overview of research
   • 2 July 2019
   • Research and analysis
2. Commentary on curriculum research - phase 3
   • 19 December 2018
   • Authored article
3. HMCI commentary: curriculum and the new education inspection framework
   • 21 September 2018
   • Authored article
4. HMCI's commentary: recent primary and secondary curriculum research
   • 11 October 2017
   • Authored article

Related content

Videos and slides about our curriculum research

Video playlist about our curriculum research

View accompanying slides for schools and early years or further education and skills.

1. HMCI commentary: the roles of inspection and autonomy
   • 28 August 2019
   • Authored article
2. What’s changing at Ofsted in autumn 2019?
   • 2 September 2019
   • News story
3. School inspection update: academic year 2018 to 2019
   • 1 November 2019
   • Correspondence
4. Ofsted’s new inspection arrangements to focus on curriculum, behaviour and development
   • 14 May 2019
   • Press release

Published 16 January 2019
Last updated 27 September 2019 + show all updates

1. 27 September 2019 Added risk assessment methodology for schools and further education and skills providers.
2. 14 May 2019 Added handbooks for maintained schools and academies, further education and skills, early years and non-association independent schools, for use from September 2019.
3. 16 January 2019 First published.