Questions Ofsted might ask headteachers and the senior leadership team (SLT)

Download our list of questions Ofsted inspectors might ask. You'll find questions related to your curriculum, your approach to attendance and behaviour issues, including sexual harassment, and how you've supported staff wellbeing.

Last reviewed on 28 July 2023
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School types: All · School phases: All
Ref: 6300
Contents
  1. Download our list of questions
  2. How inspectors decide what to ask

Download our list of questions

This resource includes questions Ofsted might ask you about:

  • Quality of education (curriculum)
    • As the headteacher or senior leader, be prepared for inspectors to ask you a few top-level questions about:
      • Your vision
      • Curriculum intent
      • Strengths and weaknesses of your curriculum provision 
  • Personal development
  • Behaviour and attitudes
  • Leadership and management
  • Safeguarding

This resource is based on:

  • Questions Ofsted asked leaders in 8 schools about their curriculum (for the 'quality of education' measure) under the 2019 Ofsted framework
  • Advice from our associate education experts Alvin Jeffs, Gulshan Kayembe, Andrew Lagden, David New and Nina Siddall-Ward

Once you've familiarised yourself with these, you can use our subject-specific questions to help you prepare for the more detailed questions you might be asked if your subject is chosen for a ‘deep dive’.

How inspectors decide what to ask

Focus your preparation time by identifying which areas inspectors are most likely to be interested in when inspecting your school. 

Look at