Guidance

Multi-academy trusts: summary evaluations

An operational note for Ofsted inspectors who are carrying out summary evaluations of multi-academy trusts (MATs), also known as ‘trusts’.

Applies to England

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Details

This guidance is designed to support inspectors in carrying out summary evaluations of trusts. It sets out the process and range of evidence-gathering activities that inspectors carry out from the time the trust is notified of the summary evaluation until the publication of the summary evaluation letter.

Published 13 December 2018
Last updated 31 March 2023 + show all updates
  1. Operational note updated to improve clarity. This includes paragraph numbers to make the guidance easier to refer to and restructuring to include sections on the legal basis, purpose, and timetable of MATSEs. We’ve clarified the structure and purpose of the notification call to align with other Ofsted remits. We’ve also removed outdated information related to Focused Reviews (predecessor to MATSEs) and references to COVID-19.

  2. Guidance updated to align with the education inspection framework. This includes the introduction of 4 new sections that outline what inspectors may consider during a MATSE around: delegation and governance structures, curriculum and quality of education, leadership and management of and across the MAT, and, pupil behaviour and attitudes. The guidance also outlines how inspectors will account for the COVID-19 pandemic during the summary evaluations.

  3. First published.