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School inspection update September 2023 - changes to how we inspect schools

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: education inspection framework, inspection, schools
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With pupils and teachers now returning to school for a new academic year, this blog gives an overview of some of the recent changes to the school inspection handbook and the way we inspect schools. In June 2023, we committed …

Our approach to inspecting the curriculum in alternative provision

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Alternative provider (AP) settings provide education for pupils with complex needs that can’t typically be met in mainstream schools. APs rightly differ from mainstream schools – they serve different purposes and have different objectives. When we inspect an AP, we …

More parental complaints don’t mean more inspections

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   This article was originally published by Schools Week. Recently we’ve noticed a rise in the number of complaints we receive from parents. While parents should be able to complain to Ofsted if they’ve gone through their school’s internal process …

Insights from the inspection of initial teacher education (ITE) providers

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Initial teacher education (ITE), together with the early career framework and national professional qualifications form the ‘golden thread’ of teacher training and professional development. The aim is to develop high-quality teachers and leaders, which is vital for giving pupils the …

Insights from our first full inspections of lead providers of the new early career framework (ECF)

A group of people making notes and asking questions.

High-quality teachers are essential for giving all pupils the very best education. This is especially true for pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds, those with English as an additional language and those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). High-quality training and …

When will my school be inspected?

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The period between inspections is normally simple. However, there are currently several complicating factors. This blog will clarify when schools can expect their next inspection. Normally: A school judged outstanding or good will usually be inspected within the 4 academic …

Teachers’ professional development remains a work in progress

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: teacher training, teachers

The ongoing professional development of teachers is fundamentally important for education quality, and has been shown to improve teacher satisfaction and retention. Teaching practice based on an up-to-date, and deep understanding of relevant evidence is a hallmark of a high-quality …