Education inspection framework (EIF)
This framework sets out Ofsted's inspection principles and the grades that inspectors give.
Applies to England
Documents
Details
The education inspection framework sets out how Ofsted will inspect state schools, further education and skills providers, non-association independent schools and registered early years settings in England.
We ran a consultation on a renewed framework between February and April 2025.
You can read our operating guides and toolkits for:
Updates to this page
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The renewed education inspection framework has been published and will replace the current framework from November 2025.
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See 'Summary of changes'.
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See 'Summary of changes' for details.
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Updated to link to the ‘Conduct during Ofsted Inspections’ guidance, which sets out the expectations for inspectors and providers on inspection. To avoid repetition, we have removed from this guidance the 2 paragraphs about expectations for inspectors and providers.
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Minor amends to set out an expectation that inspectors will agree safety protocols to ensure the inspection is completed in a COVID-19-secure way, and to highlight that inspection remit handbooks have been updated to reflect the context of the pandemic.
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The EIF came into effect on 2 September 2019.
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First published.