Policy paper

International qualified teacher status (iQTS): inspection policy

The Department for Education’s policy for the iQTS inspection regime.

• From: Department for Education
• Published: 10 June 2022
• Last updated: 12 June 2025 — See all updates

Applies to England

Documents

International qualified teacher status (iQTS): inspection framework

PDF, 499 KB, 31 pages

Details

The Department for Education (DfE) has reviewed and updated the iQTS inspection framework after the completion of the inspection pilot year.

This document sets out:

• DfE’s policy for the iQTS inspection regime for 2025 to 2026
• how inspections will be carried out
• the inspection grading descriptors
• the inspectorates for 2025 to 2026: ISI and Penta

This document will be useful for iQTS providers.

Published 10 June 2022

Last updated 12 June 2025 + show all updates

1. 12 June 2025

   We have updated the iQTS inspection framework, after the completion of the inspections pilot year. We have refined the grading descriptors, to make the distinction between outcomes clearer, and updated the iQTS criteria. The revised framework will guide the next rounds of inspections, which are due to run from autumn 2025 to spring 2026.

2. 27 October 2023

   Added new 'International qualified teacher status (iQTS): pilot inspection framework'.

3. 7 March 2023

   Updated with revised version of 'International qualified teacher status (iQTS): inspection policy'.

4. 18 November 2022

   Added link for providers interested in becoming an iQTS inspectorate.

5. 10 June 2022

   First published.