LeadersSafeguardingCPDGovernorHubKeyGPT
Training Hub

School policies: what Ofsted is looking for

Inspectors may look at school policies and how they're implemented, when they're gathering evidence for each evaluation area. Make sure your policies are helping you meet Ofsted's standards under the 2025 inspection framework.

Last reviewed on 25 November 2025See updates
School types: All•School phases: All•Ref: 8396
Contents
  1. Your individual policies won't be graded
  2. Safeguarding
  3. Attendance and behaviour
  4. Early years
  5. Leadership and governance
  6. Find more support in our resource hub

Your individual policies won't be graded

Under the 2025 inspection framework, Ofsted will give your school a grade for each evaluation area, based on whether you're meeting the standards set out in the State-funded Schools Inspection Toolkit. 

Inspectors may look at your school's policies to understand the procedures your school has in place, and how effectively they're being implemented. 

This means that inspectors may look at specific policies as part of the evidence that informs the grades on your school's report card. 

Inspectors won't expect policies to be in any particular format, as long as they're clear and accessible.

Inspectors can look at policies before and during an inspection

To prepare for the inspection, inspectors will look at information about your school that's publicly available, including relevant information from your website, which could include policies. 

Relate to your