Guidance

Summary of changes

Updated 16 September 2024

Applies to England

This sets out changes we have made to reflect our inspection practice. It does not include corrections or changes made to improve clarity.

September 2024

School inspection handbook

In this update, we have made the following changes to the school inspection handbook:

• updates throughout the handbook to reflect that from September 2024, graded inspections of state-funded schools will not include an overall effectiveness grade

• changes throughout the handbook to reflect the previously announced updates to ungraded inspections

• updates to reflect that notification for graded and ungraded inspections will now be carried out from 9.30am on the Monday of the week we will inspect the school

• updates setting out a new ‘suspend and return’ policy enabling inspectors to suspend an inspection to allow a school to resolve issues with safeguarding, where that is the only issue in the school, depending on the school’s wider context

• updates to provide clarity about the different Single Central Record requirements for maintained schools and academies and to reflect what inspectors will check during inspection

• updates throughout the handbook to refocus ungraded inspection on determining whether the school has taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection

• updates to reflect that a school with one or more judgements of requires improvement, but which is not placed in a formal category of concern, may be subject to monitoring

• updates to reflect that schools where any key judgement is graded inadequate and/or safeguarding is judged to be ineffective, will be placed in a formal category of concern

• ungraded inspection outcomes have been updated to reflect the removal of overall effectiveness grades

• some references to the COVID-19 pandemic have been removed in relation to maintained nursery schools, as these are now out of date

• defined what we mean by the term ‘qualifying complaint’ and clarified how inspectors consider qualifying complaints made to Ofsted about a school during their preparation

• updates to explain that aligned inspections of state-funded boarding and residential special schools are not planned for the 2024-2025 academic year

• clarified that inspectors may discuss with leaders their reflections on evidence being discussed during their end of day team meetings

• removed the paragraph that explained what we analyse as part of our risk assessment process as this is already contained within the separately published risk assessment methodology

• clarified the information that is requested and discussed during different parts of the pre-inspection process

• added a new section setting out clarifications about the appointment of early career teachers in schools judged to require special measures

• minor clarification to align the process for handling concerns and complaints with the deferring, pausing, and gathering additional evidence policy

• changes to reflect the use of Ofsted logos

• minor clarification to the ‘good early years grade descriptors to align with inspection handbooks for other remits

• updates to reflect that the notice for urgent inspections remains unchanged, with the addition of timings for clarity

School monitoring handbook

In this update, we have made the following changes to the school monitoring handbook:

• updates throughout the handbook to reflect that from September 2024, graded inspections of state-funded schools will not include an overall effectiveness grade

• changes throughout to remove references to early monitoring inspections which have been replaced with the new suspend and return policy

• a new section defining Ofsted’s monitoring threshold. Associated changes throughout the handbook to reflect Ofsted’s monitoring threshold

• updates to reflect that schools where any key judgement is graded inadequate and/or safeguarding is judged to be ineffective, will be deemed to be in a formal category of concern

• updated monitoring programmes for schools in a category of concern and for schools not in a category of concern

• updated monitoring inspection judgements for schools not in a category of concern, schools with serious weaknesses and schools that are subject to special measures

• new definitions to explain what we mean by ‘key judgements’ and ‘provision judgements’

• clarifications on the appointment of early career teachers in schools judged to requires special measures

• clarifications about what inspectors will ask a school during the initial telephone call

• clarified that inspectors may discuss with leaders their reflections on evidence being discussed during their end of day team meetings

• minor clarifications about the information included in monitoring inspection reports

April 2024

School inspection handbook

Paragraph 6: clarification that, when applying the handbook, inspectors will take appropriate action to comply with Ofsted’s Equality Act duties.

Paragraph 12:  clarification regarding Ofsted’s updated complaints policy.

Paragraph 96: clarifications regarding welfare support available to schools, and opportunities to discuss and/or provide information on potential equalities duties, including reasonable adjustments for individuals.

Paragraph 110: minor amendments to provide clarification in final bullet regarding open cases and multi-agency plans.

Paragraph 119: minor amendment to provide clarification on when inspectors should contact the duty desk to discuss the appropriate action to take when there are well-being concerns

Paragraph 127: clarification regarding Ofsted’s pausing policy.

Paragraph 170 to 174: clarification regarding updated arrangements for publishing reports in line with Ofsted’s new complaints process.

Paragraph 176: clarification regarding updated arrangements for quality assurance in line with Ofsted’s new complaints process.

Paragraph 178 to 180: clarification regarding updated arrangements for handling concerns and complaints in line with Ofsted’s new complaints process.

Paragraph 238: minor amendment to reflect how inspectors will use data when evaluating the quality of education.

Paragraph 310: minor revision to text about suspensions and exclusions.

Paragraph 453: reordered ‘good’ quality of education grade criteria with new sub-headings to better group similar concepts.

School monitoring handbook

Paragraph 14: clarification regarding raising concerns about an inspection.

Paragraph 77: clarifications regarding welfare support available to schools, and opportunities to discuss and/or provide information on potential equalities duties, including reasonable adjustments for individuals.

Paragraph 88: minor amendment to provide clarification on when inspectors should contact the duty desk to discuss the appropriate action to take when there are well-being concerns.

Paragraph 92: clarification regarding Ofsted’s pausing policy.

Paragraphs 176 to 185: clarifications regarding updated arrangements for publishing the report, quality assurance and handling concerns and complaints in line with Ofsted’s new complaints process.

January 2024

School monitoring handbook

In this update, we have made to the following changes to the school monitoring handbook:

Paragraph 6: clarification on the definition for requiring special measures.

Paragraph 12: clarification regarding inspector’s conduct during inspections.

Paragraph 21: clarification regarding the timing of early monitoring inspections

Paragraph 24, 80, 140 to 142, 144: clarifications on involving leaders and governors/trustees in inspections, incorporating who may attend meetings including end of day meetings, how they can contribute and how inspectors will ensure leaders are kept informed on how the inspection is progressing.

Paragraph 78: clarifications on the notification call including, who can be present during the call, the information inspectors will ask for during the call and the process for keeping leaders informed throughout the inspection.

Paragraph 81, 83: clarification on requesting a deferral.

Paragraph 86 to 91, 111: clarification regarding meetings with staff, pupils and parents to reflect who may be present and how inspectors should engage with leaders and respond if they see or suspect that a staff member is upset or distressed.

Paragraph 93: new section providing clarification on our pausing policy.

Paragraph 137, 143, 176, 177: clarification on who provisional inspection outcomes may be shared with, including people not involved in the school and when draft reports will be shared with the school.

Paragraph 139, 184 to 186: updated to reflect how leaders may raise concerns both during the inspection and afterwards.

Paragraph 157: clarification on the wording to include in the report when a serious weaknesses monitoring inspection is deemed to be a graded inspection.

Paragraph 164, 165, 166: clarification on what inspectors will consider and report wording when an early monitoring inspection of a school graded inadequate with serious weaknesses solely sue to safeguarding is deemed to be a graded inspection.

School inspection handbook

In this update, we have made to the following changes to the school inspection handbook:

Paragraph 9: clarification regarding the expectations for inspectors’ conduct during inspections.

Paragraph 28:  clarification regarding Ofsted’s role as an inspectorate of schools, and not of the specific individuals that work in them.

Paragraph 22 to 24, 97, 101, 133, 157 to 161, 162, 359, 362: clarifications on involving leaders and governors/trustees in inspections, incorporating who may attend meetings including end of day meetings, how they can contribute and how inspectors will ensure leaders are kept informed on how the inspection is progressing.

Paragraph 89, 91, 101: clarification on requesting a deferral.

Paragraph 93, 95: clarification regarding the preparatory telephone call(s) between the lead inspector and headteacher.

Paragraph 94, 482: clarification that the lead inspector will encourage the headteacher to have someone else present during the planning and educationally focused conversations.

Paragraph 96, 104 to 107: updates to reflect the information inspectors will request and discuss during the planning and educationally focused conversations and who may attend these conversations.

Paragraph 103: updates to reflect what inspectors will review and consider as part of their preparation.

Paragraph 117 to 121, 131, 143, 252, 265, 266, 317, 394, 493: clarification regarding meetings with staff, pupils and parents to reflect who may be present and how inspectors should engage with leaders and respond if they see or suspect that a staff member is upset or distressed.

Paragraph 127: new section providing clarification on our pausing policy.

Paragraph 161: clarification on where a school is judged to have serious weaknesses solely due to safeguarding, that we will return within 3 months of the publication of the graded inspection and clarification on who provisional inspection outcomes may be shared with, including people not involved in the school.

Paragraph 169, 170: clarification on when draft inspection reports are sent to schools and who they may be shared with.

Paragraph 178 to 180: updated to reflect how leaders may raise concerns both during the inspection and afterwards.

Paragraph 463: correction of minor error in the title of inadequate grade descriptors for sixth form provision

October 2023

This summary sets out minor changes we have made to the School inspection handbook (September 2023 version), including:

• providing more detail on what evidence inspectors will ask schools to provide in relation to safeguarding, to prevent unnecessary workload for schools
• clarifying that inspectors will want schools to provide details about adults living on school sites
• clarifying that inspectors will look at attendance when carrying out ungraded inspections of schools
• minor changes to take account of the new Department for Education’s exclusions and suspensions guidance

September 2023

Schools monitoring handbook (for September 2023 version)

This summary sets out updates we have made to clarify some of the terminology we use and to address the changes we set out recently about inspection processes. It does not include minor corrections made purely to improve readability.

We have included new definitions that clarify the following:

• what we mean by the terms ‘school’, ‘maintained school’ and ‘academy’
• what we mean by the terms ‘board of governors’, ‘governors’, ‘board of trustees’ and ‘trustees’
• what we mean by the terms ‘leaders’ and ‘trust leaders’

We have made amendments throughout the handbooks to apply the changes detailed above.

We have made changes to reflect the changes we have made in how we inspect safeguarding:

• we have updated the monitoring policy to include early monitoring inspections
• we have added new paragraphs on monitoring programmes for inadequate schools
• we have added a new section on monitoring programmes for schools judged inadequate solely due to ineffective safeguarding (early monitoring inspections)
• we have added new paragraphs on deeming of monitoring inspections that are inadequate with serious weakness due to ineffective safeguarding
• final feedback meeting for inadequate schools with serious weakness solely due to ineffective safeguarding

Other changes included in this update:

• a new ‘conduct during inspection’ section
• clarity about what we mean by ‘capacity to improve’
• clarity about the monitoring process for inadequate schools that are not subject to academisation or re-brokering
• clarity on academy orders and the monitoring process

August 2023 (for September 2023 version)

This summary sets out minor changes we have made following the initial publication of the handbook for September 2023. These changes include:

• a new section on schools raising concerns
• clarification regarding the DfE’s minimum expectation of at least 32.5 hours for the length of the school week

July 2023 (for September 2023 version)

This summary sets out updates we have made to clarify some of the terminology we use and to address the changes we set out recently about inspection processes. It does not include minor corrections made purely to improve readability.

We have included new definitions that clarify the following:

• what we mean by the terms ‘school’, ‘maintained school’ and ‘academy’
• what we mean by the terms ‘board of governors’, ‘governors’, ‘board of trustees’ and ‘trustees’
• what we mean by the terms ‘leaders’ and ‘trust leaders’

We have made amendments throughout the handbooks to apply the changes detailed above.

We have also made changes that provide clarification around the role of the trust during inspection and how we judge safeguarding.

Further updates to the handbook include:

• a new ‘conduct during inspection’ section
• confirmation of the likely date of the next inspection for schools
• that inspectors will protect anonymity of individuals when drawing on evidence
• confirmation that evidence from pupils, parents and staff will always be considered in a proportionate way, alongside other evidence
• updates to ‘behaviour’ and ‘attendance’ sections
• clarity about what we mean by ‘capacity to improve’
• clarity about what we mean by ‘culture of safeguarding’
• clarification on schools’ obligations in relation to ‘separation by sex’ and the steps inspectors should take in relation to this

The following updates refer specifically to sixth form:

• confirmation that for secondary schools the requirement to teach relationships and sex education includes pupils in the sixth form
• the definition of ‘off-rolling’ has been broadened to include sixth-form pupils and situations where pupils are not formally removed from the roll but are not permitted to attend school

July 2022

The names of inspections have been changed:

• Section 5 inspections are now graded inspections
• Section 8 inspections of good and outstanding schools are now ungraded inspections
• Inspections with no formal designation and unannounced behaviour visits are now urgent inspections.

The former section 5 and section 8 handbooks have been merged into a new school inspection handbook (covering graded, ungraded and urgent inspections) and a monitoring handbook (covering monitoring inspections).

The content of part 3 of the previous section 5 handbook (‘applying the EIF in different contexts’) has been merged with part 2. The grade descriptors (which were previously in part 2 of the section 5 handbook) have been separated out into part 3. A new part 4 sets out all the guidance for urgent inspections.

The ‘Inspection and the COVID-19 pandemic’ section of the previous handbooks has been removed and incorporated as relevant throughout.

Some terminology has been changed throughout the handbook. References to ‘fixed term exclusions’ are now ‘suspensions’ in line with new DfE guidance. Previous references to ‘gender’ refer only to ‘sex’ in line with legal advice on protected characteristics.

The ‘Privacy notice’ section has been renamed ‘Gathering personal information on inspection’ and updated to focus on inspectors’ powers to gather, use and store evidence.

School inspection handbook

Changes have been made throughout the new school inspection handbook to reflect the flow of inspection better and make it easier to understand, especially in explaining key judgements.

Added paragraph 12 to explain that Ofsted may carry out research as part of our inspection activities.

The ‘Clarification for schools’ section (paragraphs 13 to 28) has been re-structured and updated.

The ‘new schools’ section (paragraphs 43 to 53) has been updated, including to clarify that if a school changes its URN, it legally becomes a new school, and judgements of the predecessor school are not those of the new school.

Paragraph 156 provides information on how a school can use the Ofsted logo if judged good or outstanding.

Paragraph 184 sets out that where a ‘good: improving’ school no longer believes that they are outstanding, a regional director may decide to cancel a graded inspection and hold an ungraded inspection instead.

In the good grade descriptors for ‘quality of education’, we have removed the previous transitional arrangements and instead added a new grade descriptor to make it clear that we understand schools will change their curriculum and so some aspects will be more developed than others.

School monitoring handbook

The previous guidance on monitoring is now all contained in part 3 of the new handbook, with new sections (part 1 and 2) setting out greater detail on how Ofsted approaches monitoring and when it takes place.

There are new judgements for schools following monitoring:

• [The school] continues to require improvement. Leaders have made progress to improve the school, but more work is necessary for the school to become good.
• [The school] continues to require improvement. Leaders have made insufficient progress to improve the school.
• [The school] remains inadequate and has serious weaknesses. Leaders have made progress to improve the school, but more work is necessary for the category of concern to be removed.
• [The school] remains inadequate and has serious weaknesses. Leaders have made insufficient progress to improve the school.
• [The school] remains inadequate and in special measures. Leaders have made progress to improve the school, but more work is necessary for the category of concern to be removed.
• [The school] remains inadequate and in special measures. Improvement. Leaders have made insufficient progress to improve the school.

April 2022

Removed the requirement for local authorities, proprietors or trusts to prepare a statement of action. Statements of action will continue to be required by law, but from Monday 18 April, we will no longer review statements of action on receipt. We will acknowledge receipt of the statement, but it will not be evaluated by an inspector at that time, and we will not reject or endorse any statements. The statement will form part of the evidence base for the first monitoring visit of that school, along with the school’s own improvement plan.

February 2022

Paragraph 39, 106, 111, 148 and 379 to 387: changes to reflect Ofsted’s policy on aligned inspections.

Paragraph 41 to 44 and 50: updated to clarify the frequency of inspection.

Paragraph 47: clarifications on what we consider in our risk assessment.

Paragraph 67, 236, 252 and 315 to 317: updated to clarify Ofsted’s approach to harmful sexual behaviour.

Paragraph 230 and 231: Updates and clarifications on transitional arrangements.

October 1 2021

Added separate guidance on aligned inspections of schools with boarding or residential provision from October 2021. This temporarily replaces the guidance in paragraphs 372 to 382 of the school inspection handbook.

September 2021

Removed previous version of the handbook. The September handbook is now in force.

August 2021 (for September 2021 version)

Paragraph 41: updated to reflect section 5 inspection intervals following the pandemic

Paragraph 61: updated to reflect section 48 inspection intervals following the pandemic

Paragraph 174: clarified that schools may wish to consider emailing the final report to parents or publishing the report on the school website.

June 2021 (for September 2021 version)

Paragraph 7 to 28: changes to reflect the COVID-19 ‘transitional period’.

Paragraph 15: added a new paragraph on how Ofsted will evaluate the use of tutors.

Paragraph 21 and 218: updates to reflect that teacher assessed grades from 2020 and 2021 will not be used to assess curriculum impact.

Paragraph 29 to 36: updated to reflect that EYFS disapplications end on 31 August 2021.

Paragraph 38: clarified that alternative provision academies are also subject to inspection.

Paragraphs 41, 55, 65, 147, 149, 164,165 and 166: updated to reflect inspection intervals following the pandemic.

Paragraph 47 to 48: clarified the risk assessment process for previously exempt schools.

Paragraphs 78, 84 and 115: changed to reflect the new early career framework for teachers and the replacement of the term NQT with ECT.

Paragraph 205: clarified that Ofsted will take into account any transitional provisions when looking at a school’s curriculum.

Quality of education ‘Good’ Implementation grade descriptor: clarified that leaders should provide effective support for those teaching outside their expertise.

Paragraph 256 to 259: inserted a new section codifying Ofsted’s position on careers information, education, advice and guidance (CIEAG).

Paragraph 306 to 310: inserted a new section about Ofsted’s position on harmful sexual behaviour.

Leadership and management ‘Good’ grade descriptor: clarified that vision needs to be maintained beyond recovery.

Early years education in schools ‘Implementation’ grade descriptor: updated text on staff teaching the language of feelings.

Sixth form provision ‘Good’ grade descriptor: Updated text on RSE, bullying and harassment

April 2021

This section outlines changes to inspection practice. This does not include corrections or changes made to improve clarity in how the framework is written.

Paragraphs 7 to 37: a new section on ‘Inspection during the COVID-19 pandemic’ has been included. This covers:

• preparation and planning
• curriculum
• remote education
• external data
• leadership
• safeguarding and attendance
• personal development
• remote elements of the inspection
• disapplication and modifications of the early years foundation stage (EYFS)

Paragraphs 47 to 56: changes to reflect the removal of the outstanding exemption.

Paragraph 70: clarified that meetings will be as COVID-19 restrictions allow, using video where necessary.

Paragraph 72: clarified that we do not expect schools to provide records of live lessons, unless usually stored.

Paragraphs 80 and 84: changes to the preparatory call due to COVID-19.

Paragraph 116: added a reference to early career teachers.

Paragraph 132 (footnote): inspectors will respect any COVID-19 safety messages when talking to students.

Paragraph 133: Paragraph inserted on inspectors talking to pupils outside lessons.

Paragraph 145: clarified that the clerk to the governors may be present at the final feedback meeting to the school.

Paragraphs 171 to 182: updated to reflect new arrangements for publishing reports and handling concerns and complaints.

Paragraph 187: clarified that COVID-19 cannot be the sole factor driving an inadequate judgement.

Paragraphs 198, 205 to 206, 209 and 215: updates regarding curriculum and remote education during COVID-19.

Paragraphs 212 and 214: COVID-19 update about assessment.

Paragraphs 220 and 223: COVID-19 update clarifying our position on performance data.

In the ‘Grade descriptors for quality of education’ section:

• added a note about how we review the handbook as we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic
• in the ‘Good’ grade descriptors sub-section, added a COVID-19 update on curriculums, remote education, assessment and teacher assessed grades

In the ‘Good’ grade descriptors section under ‘Grade descriptors for behaviour and attitudes’, clarified what ‘high attendance’ means in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Paragraph 243: personal development opportunities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Paragraphs 250 to 255: Updated to reflect changes to relationships and sex education.

Paragraph 274: update about catch-up funding.

Paragraph 277: clarified that speaking to pupils who attend off-site provision may be through video calls.

Paragraph 279 and 283: clarified that visits to alternative provision may be completed remotely due to COVID-19 and safety arrangements in alternative provision.

Paragraph 286: COVID-19 update on the prioritisation of vulnerable pupils and returning pupils to school.

Paragraph 292: update on protecting pupils while receiving remote education or self isolating due to COVID-19.

Paragraph 302: added a new paragraph on corroboration of evidence on safeguarding.

Paragraph 307 to 311: added section on inspecting the teaching of the protected characteristics.

‘Good’ grade descriptors section under ‘Grade descriptors for leadership and management’: COVID-19 updates on maintaining visions through the pandemic, inclusion of remote education and managing staff workloads.

Paragraph 316: addition to refer users back to COVID-19 section on early years.

Paragraph 332: added reference to T level technical education programmes.

In the ’Good’ grade descriptors section under ‘Grade descriptors’, added COVID-19 update about remote education and starting points.

Paragraph 334 and 337: remote teaching of reading and maths during COVID-19.

Paragraph 353, 355, 357 and 358: COVID-19 update regarding remote education of pupils with SEND, safeguarding arrangements for pupils with SEND, remote education and safeguarding.

Paragraph 363: update on transitions for pupils to and from alternative provision during the pandemic.