Ofsted resource hub
Find everything you need to be ready for an Ofsted inspection.
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Try our new inspection question wizard
Use our AI-powered wizard to get examples of questions you might be asked during inspection, and find support on the evidence that inspectors will be looking for.
Simply answer a few questions and we'll generate tailored inspection-related questions based on your school's specific context and needs.
Get up to speed with the inspection framework
If you're preparing for your first Ofsted visit under the current framework, understand what's different from inspections you've had previously.
For more insights:
- Watch the Key's podcast episode on the current inspection framework in conversation with Sir Martyn Oliver, His Majesty’s Chief Inspector
- Read our blog post on what schools can learn from Ofsted report cards published so far
Ofsted inspection framework 2025: summary of changes
Get your head around the key changes to school inspections for state-funded schools for 2025, including new report cards, the inspection toolkit, and changes to the notification phone call.
Ofsted: FAQs
Get answers to your questions about Ofsted's current framework across the most frequently-asked topics. Plus, find links to all our resources to help you manage an Ofsted inspection effectively.
Frequency of Ofsted inspections
Find out how often Ofsted inspects schools under the 2025 framework and get an idea of when your next inspection will be.
Ofsted IDSR: summary
Find out what your inspection data summary report (IDSR) includes and how inspectors will use it, and see examples from the DfE.
Know what the inspection process involves
Find out what happens before, during and after an Ofsted inspection in our step-by-step guide, and brief your staff so they know what to expect.
Your step-by-step guide to an Ofsted inspection
Find out what happens before, during and after an Ofsted inspection under the current framework, and understand what's expected of you at each step.
Ofsted inspection staff briefing
Download our briefing presentation and handout to prepare your staff for an Ofsted inspection under the 2025 framework. Help them feel confident and know what to expect when the call comes, on the day and afterwards.
Your guide to Ofsted monitoring inspections
Find out the circumstances when a school is eligible for monitoring inspections, how often they'll happen and the process for moving out of a 'category of concern'. Plus, see a step-by-step guide for every type of monitoring inspection.
Ofsted inspectors: ID and DBS checks
Be clear on the identification Ofsted inspectors carry when they inspect your school, and the safeguarding checks they’ve had.
How Ofsted inspects alternative provision
Get to grips with how Ofsted inspects pupil referral units (PRUs) and alternative provision (AP) academies. Also find information covering inspection of residential provision.
Find out what Ofsted will look for
Read more details about the criteria for each of the 9 evaluation areas. Each article includes a self-evaluation tool to help you review your provision against the framework.
How Ofsted inspects safeguarding
Get to grips with how Ofsted will inspect safeguarding in your school under its inspection framework. Find details of the key evidence it will consider, and use our self-evaluation tool to review your setting.
How Ofsted inspects inclusion
Understand how Ofsted will inspect the new evaluation area of inclusion in your school. Find out about the standards of the 2025 framework, and use our self-evaluation tool to consider your provision.
How Ofsted inspects curriculum and teaching
Understand how Ofsted will inspect curriculum and teaching, and the key evidence inspectors will consider. Use our self-evaluation tool to review your current provision.
How Ofsted inspects achievement
Understand how Ofsted will inspect achievement and the key evidence it will consider under the 2025 inspection framework. Download and use our self-evaluation tool to help you review your setting.
How Ofsted inspects attendance and behaviour
Learn how Ofsted inspects attendance and behaviour. Use our self-evaluation tool to review your behaviour, attendance, exclusion and attitudes to learning against the standards.
How Ofsted inspects personal development and wellbeing
Understand how Ofsted will inspect personal development and wellbeing in your school under the school inspection framework, and the key evidence it will consider. Use our self-evaluation tool to review your current provision.
How Ofsted inspects leadership and governance
Understand how Ofsted will inspect leadership and governance in your school, and the key evidence inspectors will consider. Use our self-evaluation tool to review your current provision.
How Ofsted inspects early years in schools
Find out how Ofsted will inspect your school's Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), and what inspectors will be looking for under the 2025 inspection framework. Use our self-evaluation tool to review your provision.
Align your school improvement planning with the framework
Use these resources if you want to evaluate your provision and decide on your school improvement priorities in line with Ofsted's framework.
Self-evaluation form (SEF): guidance and template
Get help writing your school's self-evaluation form (SEF). Download our template SEF, based on Ofsted's 2025 inspection framework, to evaluate your provision and identify areas for improvement.
School improvement plan: template, checklist and monitoring guidance
Download one of our school improvement plan (SIP) templates and use our checklist to help you evaluate your own SIP. Learn how you can monitor implementation of your SIP.
Getting the most out of your Ofsted feedback
Find out how to use feedback from Ofsted inspectors to drive school improvement. Utilise ongoing feedback to make the inspection a collaborative experience, and use your report card to prioritise areas for improvement.
Be ready when you get the call
Use our checklist to prepare everything you need when you find out you're going to be inspected.
Plus, see our resources to help you organise all the data you'll need ready for an inspection.
Ofsted pre-inspection checklist and reminders
You've received the notification call from Ofsted that you’re going to be inspected. Download our checklist for headteachers to see what to prepare before Ofsted arrives, and share reminders and support with the rest of your staff.
Analysing pupil performance data
Analyse your pupils' performance to help you understand attainment and improve teaching and learning. Get to grips with how to go about it, including what to focus on and how to analyse data from ASP and IDSR.
Analysing your attendance and absence data
Get to grips with how to analyse your attendance data to spot patterns in absences for groups of pupils, identify reasons this may be happening and plan your next steps.
Analysing your suspensions, exclusions and behaviour data
Find out what to look out for in your suspensions and exclusions data and how to identify any issues. Use your analysis to inform any changes in your practice, to make your school more inclusive and be Ofsted-ready.
Progress measures: pupils with SEN
All pupils, including those with special educational needs (SEN), are included in whole-school progress measures. See how these are calculated and where to find national data.
Using data to support school improvement
Understand how to use data for school improvement planning. Download our guide to find out what data is available, how to use it and how often to analyse it.
Arbor's Ofsted Inspection Companion
Arbor's Ofsted Inspection Companion pulls together the key data you need to present to inspectors into 1 neat, editable document.
Arbor is The Key Group's MIS. Find out more about Arbor, or book a demo.
Be clear on who's responsible for what
Share our articles with your Ofsted nominee and school business manager (SBM). Agree on responsibilities and who's doing what before and during inspection.
Plus, see resources to share with your governors so they can be confident in their role.
Ofsted nominee: who to choose and how to support them
Understand what the Ofsted nominee does, and who may be suitable to become the nominee in your team. Plus, see tips on how to support your nominee to prepare for the role, divide workload during an inspection, and look out for their wellbeing.
Ofsted inspection: role of the school business manager (SBM)
Your role as an SBM will likely depend on whether your school has appointed an Ofsted nominee to support your headteacher with the inspection. Find out what inspectors may talk to you and your team about and what responsibilities you might have before and during inspection.
Share these resources with your governors so they understand their requirements under the current framework:
Talk to your community about your inspection
Communicate with parents, carers and your wider community about what inspection means for your school, and find support with sharing your outcome.
Ofsted inspection: letter to your school community about the outcome
Save time with our template letters to clearly explain the outcome of your school's latest Ofsted inspection grading to your school community. Plus, use our letter to help your stakeholders understand the changes in Ofsted's report cards under the 2025 framework.
How to talk to your team about Ofsted inspections
Find tips on talking to your team about Ofsted inspections, including before and after you've had the outcome. Get everyone on the same page about what to expect, and download our poster to remind staff of wellbeing safeguards during an inspection.
Inclusion and case sampling
Inclusion has been a new evaluation area since 2025, and a key theme that inspectors will be looking at during an inspection.
Find out how inclusion is inspected, how case sampling is carried out and which pupil groups are involved.
How Ofsted inspects inclusion
Understand how Ofsted will inspect the new evaluation area of inclusion in your school. Find out about the standards of the 2025 framework, and use our self-evaluation tool to consider your provision.
Questions Ofsted might ask about inclusion
Download our resource to get an idea of the types of questions Ofsted inspectors might ask about inclusion under the 2026 framework.
Case sampling: what it is and how to prepare
Learn how Ofsted inspectors will use case sampling to look at specific pupils in your school, what the process involves and how to prepare for it. Plus, use our templates to let parents/carers know if inspectors will want to talk to them or their child.
How to carry out your own case sampling
Case sampling isn’t just for Ofsted. It’s a great way to assess how inclusive your school is, and see your provision through the eyes of your most vulnerable pupils. Find out how to do it effectively, and use our templates to make the process easier.
Inclusion: understanding pupil groups
Get to grips with the key pupil groups that Ofsted will focus on when evaluating inclusion. Understand how to identify which of the pupils in your school face barriers to their learning and/or their wellbeing, so you can put support in place and deliver inclusive provision for all.
We're continuing to update and add to our Ofsted content to help you navigate the current inspection framework. Select 'save for later' at the top of this page to be notified when we update it.
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