Inspection criteria
Highlights from school evaluation and improvement
- Attendance: what Ofsted is looking for Ofsted will consider your attendance data when making specific judgements. Understand what evidence inspectors will want to look at, and what they want to see in 'outstanding' and 'good' schools.
- 'Cultural capital': expanding narrow definitions Prepare your pupils for life in modern Britain by providing 'cultural capital' that celebrates all cultures, and reflects your community and the country's diversity.
- 'Cultural capital': what Ofsted is looking for Ofsted will consider ‘cultural capital’ when assessing your quality of education, but what does this actually mean? Read on to find out how inspectors will evaluate it in your school.
- Health and safety: how to show Ofsted you're fulfilling your duties Ofsted doesn't have set criteria for evaluating health and safety, but inspectors will report on any failure to comply with statutory requirements. Be clear on your obligations, and good practice, so you feel ready if Ofsted asks.
- How Ofsted inspects 'behaviour and attitudes' Learn how Ofsted inspects 'behaviour and attitudes' in a graded inspection under the Ofsted inspection framework. This judgement covers behaviour, attendance, exclusion and attitudes to learning.
- How Ofsted inspects early years education Learn how Ofsted inspects your EYFS provision. This judgement covers nursery, reception, provision for 2 and 3 year-olds, and wraparound care.
- How Ofsted inspects governance Get to grips with how governance is inspected under the Ofsted framework, and the role of governors on inspection day.
- How Ofsted inspects 'leadership and management' Understand which parts of school leadership and management will be judged under the Ofsted inspection framework. See what evidence you can provide and read a summary of the grade descriptors.
- How Ofsted inspects 'personal development' Learn how Ofsted inspects 'personal development' under the Ofsted framework, including how SMSC development is considered. Download our list of questions inspectors might ask, including ones about British values.
- How Ofsted inspects safeguarding Understand what Ofsted expects to see in your safeguarding arrangements, and what evidence inspectors will collect during an inspection. Download our list of questions Ofsted might ask about child protection, including how you handle sexual harassment and abuse in your school.
- How Ofsted inspects sixth forms Understand how Ofsted will inspect sixth form provision under the 2023 framework.
- How Ofsted inspects your curriculum Ofsted's 'quality of education' measure puts your curriculum in the spotlight. Understand how inspectors will judge your intent, implementation and impact, and the evidence they'll consider. Also see what's changed now that the transition period has ended.
- How Ofsted inspects your provision for 'disadvantaged' pupils Learn how Ofsted defines 'disadvantaged' pupils and considers how well your provision supports these pupils.
- How Ofsted will assess RSE Relationships and sex education (RSE) won't be inspected on its own – instead, Ofsted will look at how you're meeting statutory requirements for RSE, and consider this within your 'personal development' and 'leadership and management' judgements.
- Ofsted changes for the 2023/24 academic year: summary Be clear on the changes Ofsted has made to its inspection handbook for September 2023, so you can keep on top of what's new.
- Ofsted 'deep dive' questions Download our list of 'deep dive' questions, based on previous inspections, for subject leaders and teachers to see what Ofsted inspectors might ask in a subject 'deep dive'.
- Ofsted 'deep dives': art and design Understand how Ofsted inspectors do an art and design 'deep dive' and see what they might ask by downloading our list of questions based on previous inspections.
- Ofsted 'deep dives': computing Find out what evidence inspectors will look at during a computing ‘deep dive’, and what questions they might ask. Download our list of questions to help you prepare.
- Ofsted 'deep dives': English Understand how Ofsted inspectors do English and reading 'deep dives' and see what they might ask by downloading our list of questions based on previous inspections.
- Ofsted 'deep dives': geography Find out what Ofsted inspectors might ask during a geography 'deep dive'. Download our list of questions to help you speak confidently about geography with inspectors.
- Ofsted 'deep dives': history Find out how Ofsted inspectors do a history 'deep dive' and see what they might ask by downloading our list of questions based on previous inspections.
- Ofsted 'deep dives': maths Find out what evidence inspectors will look at during a maths 'deep dive', and what they might ask. Download our list of questions to help you prepare.
- Ofsted 'deep dives': modern foreign languages (MFL) Find out what evidence Ofsted inspectors look for in a modern foreign languages 'deep dive', and download our list of questions so you're prepared.
- Ofsted 'deep dives': PE Find out what Ofsted inspectors might ask during a PE 'deep dive'. Download our list of questions to help you speak confidently about PE with inspectors.
- Ofsted 'deep dives': PSHE Understand how Ofsted inspectors carry out PSHE 'deep dives' and see what they might ask by downloading our list of questions based on previous inspections.
- Ofsted 'deep dives': science Find out how Ofsted inspectors do a science 'deep dive'. Download our list of questions they might ask you so you can feel confident talking about your subject with inspectors.
- Ofsted 'summary evaluations' of trusts: explainer Summary evaluations are Ofsted's approach to gathering findings about a trust. Find out what happens at each stage of the process, what Ofsted will expect of you and your leadership team and what it's likely to consider.For Trust Leaders
- Questions Ofsted might ask you based on your subject Get a handle on what Ofsted could ask you and your colleagues about a subject during a 'deep dive', all in one place. See what inspectors could ask about art, computing, English, geography, history, maths, modern foreign languages, PE, PSHE, and science.
- School policies: what Ofsted is looking for Ofsted inspectors won't grade your policies, but they'll want to know how you're implementing them. Find out what inspectors would want to see from your school.