Self-evaluation form (SEF): checklists and template

Use our checklists to help you evaluate your school against the Ofsted framework. Download our template SEF, which includes Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and post-16 provision. Plan monitoring activities, plus see examples of SEFs from a range of schools.

updated on 22 February 2024
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Contents
  1. Checklist: identify your strengths and weaknesses
  2. See our resources to help you with monitoring
  3. EYFS Checklist
  4. Download our SEF template based on the Ofsted framework
  5. See examples of SEFs from schools

Ofsted doesn't expect your self-evaluation form (SEF) to be in any particular format. Any assessment should be part of your usual school improvement processes and not for Ofsted (see the School Inspection Handbook, paragraph 21).

There are 2 parts to this article:

  • 2 checklists to use to evaluate your school against the Ofsted judgements (e.g. if you're a new headteacher, or haven't had an inspection under the 2019 framework). If you don't need to use these, you can go straight to the SEF template
  • template to complete your SEF against the Ofsted framework, which will later help you write your school improvement plan (SIP)

Checklist: identify your strengths and weaknesses

RAG rate your school against the grade descriptors for each judgement area, based on the inspection handbook Pick out your strengths and include these in your SEF – this is a chance for you to celebrate what you're good at Decide which