Guidance and regulation

Ofsted guidance on inspecting maintained schools and academies in England under the education inspection framework.

• From: Ofsted
• Updated: 5 April 2024

• School inspection handbook

  This guidance came into force on 5 April 2024. Introduction 1. This…

• School monitoring handbook

  This guidance came into force on 5 April 2024. Introduction 1. This…

• Summary of changes

  This sets out changes we have made to reflect our inspection practice. It…

This framework sets out Ofsted's inspection principles and the main judgements that inspectors make.

• From: Ofsted
• Updated: 14 July 2023

• Education inspection framework

  This guidance came into force on 1 September 2023. Introduction The…

• Summary of changes

  July 2023 (for September 2023 version) New paragraphs added to outline the…

This guide provides an overview of the inspection data summary report (IDSR) for primary and secondary schools, including schools with a sixth form and gives guidance on interpreting the data.

• From: Ofsted
• Updated: 6 March 2024

This guide gives a summary of what schools should expect and what they need to do as part of an Ofsted inspection.

• From: Ofsted
• Updated: 15 April 2024

Information for schools about secondary school accountability measures, including Progress 8 and Attainment 8.

• From: Department for Education
• Updated: 18 April 2024

What schools, registered early years providers and childminders need to know about delivering the early years foundation stage (EYFS), and Ofsted inspections under the education inspection framework (EIF).

• From: Ofsted
• Updated: 20 March 2024

Guidance on the conduct of inspectors and Ofsted's expectations of providers during inspection or wider regulatory activity.

• From: Ofsted
• Updated: 19 January 2024

News and information about updates for each inspection data summary report (IDSR) release, including any new functionality, features and bug fixes.

• From: Ofsted
• Updated: 6 March 2024

Approved key stage 4 qualifications (GCSEs, Technical Awards, AS levels and graded music exams), discount codes and point scores for reporting in the 2014 to 2026 school and college performance tables.

• From: Department for Education
• Updated: 4 April 2024

You will need to follow a specific procedure if you want to contract as an Ofsted inspector.

• From: Ofsted
• Updated: 10 January 2023

Ofsted's policy for considering whether to defer or pause an inspection or visit, or whether additional evidence needs to be gathered.

• From: Ofsted
• Updated: 5 April 2024

Find out if you have the qualifications and experience to contract as an Ofsted inspector for schools or further education and skills.

• From: Ofsted
• Updated: 19 January 2022

You can use this service to register your interest in contracting as an Ofsted inspector.

• From: Ofsted
• Updated: 3 February 2023

The national minimum standards that boarding schools must meet to safeguard and protect the children in their care.

• From: Department for Education
• Updated: 5 September 2022

How we regulate and intervene in independent schools, and details of when we take legal action against unregistered schools.

• From: Department for Education
• Updated: 21 August 2019

Ofsted guidance on inspecting non-association independent schools in England under the education inspection framework.

• From: Ofsted
• Updated: 5 April 2024

How Ofsted is revising inspection methodology to support the education inspection framework.

• From: Ofsted
• Updated: 14 May 2019

Technical guidance on primary school accountability measures.

• From: Department for Education
• Updated: 26 March 2024

This toolkit explains Ofsted Parent View. Schools can use it to encourage parents and carers to share their experiences of their child’s school.

• From: Ofsted
• Updated: 5 April 2022

Find out how much you would be paid as a contracted Ofsted inspector for the different tasks you would perform.

• From: Ofsted
• Updated: 1 April 2022