Work and tasks of a contracted Ofsted inspector
Find out what tasks you will have if you contract as an Ofsted inspector.
Applies to England
Your role will generally be either as:
- a lead inspector
- a team inspector
You might also carry out quality assurance activities.
Lead inspectors
If you have the role of a lead inspector, you must meet several requirements.
You will complete all of the tasks for each inspection you carry out in accordance with:
- the applicable Ofsted framework
- any other inspection requirements that may be identified
You must carry out a risk assessment in advance of any inspection undertaken.
After an inspection
When the inspection tasks are completed, you will submit your inspection report, or equivalent, to Ofsted in the format and time specified. You must do the same with the summary evidence forms and inspection outcomes.
You must be available for contact by Ofsted for at least 10 working days after submitting your inspection report in case we need to ask you questions or we require clarifications.
You will evaluate the quality of services provided by the team inspectors in the format and within the period specified by Ofsted.
Your work during the inspection will be evaluated on the quality of each inspection report produced. This could include a scrutiny of your evidence base or on-site visits by one of His Majesty’s Inspectors (HMIs) or a Senior HMI.
Team inspectors
If you are a team inspector, you will:
- complete all the tasks allocated by the lead inspector for that inspection
- act in accordance with the applicable Ofsted framework and any other identified inspection requirements
- prepare appropriately for an inspection by reading in advance any joining instructions or other material the lead inspector supplies
Your work on an inspection will be evaluated by the lead inspector.
Quality assurance work
As a contracted Ofsted inspector, you might be asked to carry out quality assurance specialist activity. This will involve:
- completing the Stage 1 quality assurance review of summary inspection evidence and inspection outputs including:
- reports
- letters
- advice notes
- using criteria and levelled standards to evaluate the quality of inspection outputs
- recording the quality of inspection outputs
Feedback
You will receive feedback on the quality of the services you have provided. We might use this information to inform further training and support. Where there are major shortcomings in quality then Ofsted reserves the right to apply remedies.
If your inspections or the provision of other services do not meet the standards required by Ofsted then we reserve the right to terminate our commercial arrangements with you.