Correspondence

School inspection update: academic year 2018 to 2019

Updates for inspectors and stakeholders with the latest information and guidance about Ofsted's inspection work in schools.

Applies to England

Documents

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The July edition provides a single point of reference for any policy matters relating to the new framework not covered by the EIF school inspection handbooks published in May. Information in this edition replaces or reiterates all previous guidance in earlier editions.

The March edition clarifies a number of areas, such as summary evaluations of multi-academy trusts (MATs), how inspectors should treat safeguarding concerns from questionnaires, inspection timings and Ofsted’s process for publishing reports for schools that have closed.

The January school inspection update was launched together with a consultation on Ofsted’s education inspection framework (EIF) 2019. Part 1 explains why we believe there is a need for a new framework at this point in the improvement journey of England’s education sector; it also summarises the theory and evidence underpinning the development of the EIF 2019. Parts 2 and 3 focus on some of the main features that inspectors will look at within the proposed framework. Part 4 summarises how we propose to go about gathering evidence and reporting to users.

The November edition includes our approach to unlawful segregation, an update on electronic evidence gathering during school inspections and links to new or recently updated guidance.

The September edition focuses on the reformed 9 to 1 GSCEs. We also provide an update on floor standards and coasting schools, guidance on off-rolling in schools, clarification on conducting inspections in schools that are part of multi-academy trusts, guidance on in-school cadet units, and information on Ofsted’s new inspection reports website.

Published 20 September 2018
Last updated 1 November 2019 + show all updates
  1. Added the November 2019 edition of the school inspection update.

  2. Added July 2019 update.

  3. Added the March 2019 edition of school inspection update.

  4. Added a special edition of the school inspection update about Ofsted's new education inspection framework for 2019.

  5. Added School inspection update: November 2018.

  6. First published.