The inspection framework

Be clear on how 'behaviour and attitudes' will be inspected in your school under the Ofsted inspection framework.

Learn how Ofsted inspects governance under the inspection framework, and what your role is on inspection day.

Be clear on how Ofsted will inspect your school's leadership and management, and read a summary of the grade descriptors.

Learn how Ofsted inspects 'personal development' under the inspection framework, including how spiritual, moral, social and cultural (SMSC) development is considered.

Be clear on how your school's curriculum will be inspected under the 'quality of education' judgement.

Understand how Ofsted will inspect your school's SEND provision. Doing so won't just prepare you for inspection, but also inform your strategic plans and how you monitor and challenge provision.

Understand how Ofsted will inspect your school's sixth-form provision and know what evidence inspectors will look for.

Find out how Ofsted measures 'overall effectiveness' so that you're clear on how your school will be inspected under the current framework.

Relationships and sex education (RSE) isn't inspected on its own - instead, Ofsted will consider this within your school's 'personal development' and 'leadership and management' judgements. Understand what requirements your school needs to meet and evidence it can present.

Be clear on the changes Ofsted has made to its inspection handbook for September 2024, so you can keep on top of what's new.

Find out what your school needs to do under the current framework, so you can monitor how your school is performing against the 4 areas of judgement.

Understand how Ofsted will inspect your school's use of the pupil premium. Doing so won't just prepare you for inspection, but will also inform your strategic plans, as well as how you monitor and challenge the effectiveness of your pupil premium spending.

If you're a link governor or trustee, Ofsted inspectors won't formally assess your role. If you do speak to them, here's how you can demonstrate that you're effectively monitoring your school or trust.

Understand what inspectors expect to see in your school's safeguarding arrangements, and what evidence Ofsted will collect during an inspection.

Stay up to date with all things Ofsted.

Summary evaluations are Ofsted's approach to gathering findings about a multi-academy trust. Find out what happens at each stage of the process, what Ofsted will expect and what it's likely to consider.

Ofsted inspectors won't grade your school's policies, but they'll want to know how it's implementing them. Find out what inspectors would want to see from your school.

If your school has a designated religious character, you're responsible for organising section 48 inspections on top of standard Ofsted inspections. Be clear on what these inspections are and how they work, so you can be confident in fulfilling this duty.

Find out what happens during an ungraded inspection (previously called a section 8 inspection) under the 2019 Ofsted framework, and what your role is as a governor.