Risk assessment methodology for good state-funded schools
This is the risk assessment process that Ofsted uses when scheduling inspections of good state-funded primary and secondary schools.
Applies to England
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Ofsted uses statistical models to make sure that we are allocating our inspection resources where they are needed most. This is known as our risk assessment process. We look at published data about each provider together with a wide range of information to give us a selection of providers that we will inspect that year.
This process is not used to pre-judge inspection outcomes; inspectors do not have access to the risk assessments when they are inspecting providers.
You can find out more about our approach in the school inspection handbook.
You can also read a blog about our approach to risk assessing good and outstanding schools.
Last updated 14 July 2023 + show all updates
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Clarified when risk assessment takes place to align the guidance with updates made to the schools inspection handbook
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Updated with the new terminology used to describe state-funded school inspections. There has also been an update to the data sources used in stage 1.
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The title has been updated to reflect the removal of the inspection exemption for outstanding schools. The methodology has also been updated to account for the pause in routine inspection during the pandemic.
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First published.