Role of school office staff in an Ofsted inspection

Support staff, including office staff, may be interviewed by Ofsted inspectors. Find out what they should know and how your office staff can help with inspection preparations.

Last reviewed on 9 February 2024
School types: AllSchool phases: AllRef: 4719
Contents
  1. Inspectors may interview your office staff
  2. What your office staff need to know
  3. Practical preparation for inspections

Inspectors may interview your office staff

Ofsted inspectors will talk to a sample of staff when gathering evidence as part of the 'behaviour and attitudes' judgement about school culture and practice in relation to pupils' behaviour, support for staff and other systems.

Inspectors will select staff from across your school, who are most affected by pupils’ challenging behaviour. This includes office staff.

Staff may bring another appropriate person to these interviews, but they must be allowed to express their views freely.

This is explained in the School Inspection Handbook (paragraphs 118 and 317). 

What your office staff need to know

School aims

It's good practice to involve all staff when developing your school aims.  

Remind your office staff about what your school aims are during INSET training and regularly throughout the year.

Most discussions about your school's performance will be with senior leaders, but inspectors will expect your office staff to