School Ofsted Inspections
| Published: 6th March 2007 13:06 |
At present, Ofsted inspects every school in the country approximately once every three years. The school is usually given about two days notice of when this will take place and which contractor will be running the inspection. However, if Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector (HMCI) is concerned about the safety or well being of pupils in a school, HMCI will exercise the right to inspect a school without notice.
An inspection will not last more than two days and the team inspecting the school will be made up of between one and five inspectors depending on the size of the school. The inspectors will consider many different aspects of the school before inspecting it. These include the school’s previous inspection report, its performance results and also the school’s own self evaluation report. The self evaluation report is used as a basis for discussion between the lead inspector, the senior team of the school and, where possible, the governors.
During an inspection, the inspectors will sit in on lessons and examine the way lessons are planned. They will also talk to the teachers and the students and ask them how they feel about various aspects of the school.
Schools are required to notify parents of an inspection. They also have to notify parents about how they can have their say. If parents do want to contribute, their comments are passed directly on to the inspectors. Parents can also speak to inspectors during the inspection if they wish to.
At the end of the inspection a report is produced that comments on the school’s overall effectiveness, achievements, standards and the quality of:
- the teaching and learning
- the way it delivers the curriculum and other activities
- the care, guidance and support it gives
- the leadership and management
The inspectors also report on:
- the extent to which the school enables learners to be healthy
- the extent to which it ensures that learners stay safe
- how well learners enjoy their education
- the extent to which learners make a positive contribution to the school
- how well learners develop workplace and other skills that will contribute to their future economic well-being.
- schools for pupils aged from 2 - 5 (including maintained nursery education)
- schools for pupils aged from 5 - 11 (including primary and middle schools that provide primary education)
- schools for pupils aged from 11 - 16 (including secondary schools and middle schools that provide secondary education)
More details of how inspections take place is available on the Ofsted website
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