How Ofsted inspects governance

Get to grips with how governance is inspected under the Ofsted framework, and the role of governors on inspection day.

Last reviewed on 22 August 2023
See updates
School types: All · School phases: All
Ref: 2896
Contents
  1. Governance is inspected as part of ‘leadership and management’
  2. What inspectors are looking for
  3. Evidence inspectors will use
  4. Governors’ role on inspection day
  5. How governance is inspected if you’re in a MAT
  6. Grade descriptors
  7. How to prepare your governors for inspection
  8. Demonstrating governors' impact

Governance is inspected as part of ‘leadership and management’

Ofsted inspectors assess governance as part of the 'leadership and management' judgement – there isn’t a separate judgement or grading for governance.

What inspectors are looking for

Ofsted looks at how well those “responsible for governance”:

The list above is