Your role as a governing board
As a governing board, you won't be inspected under Ofsted's post-16 provision evaluation area.
The sections below cover how Ofsted will inspect your school's post-16 provision. You're not expected to know this information in great detail, but understanding the basics can help you hold your school's leaders to account, which you are expected to do.
Post-16 provision is graded on a 5-point scale
'Post-16 provision' is an evaluation area under the 2025 inspection framework (known as 'sixth-form provision' under the previous framework).
The evaluation areas will appear on your school’s inspection report card. Each area will be graded using Ofsted’s new 5-point grading system, with 'expected standard' as the starting point. The exception is safeguarding, which is either 'met' or 'not met'.
The grades are:
- Exceptional
- Strong standard
- Expected standard
- Needs attention
- Urgent improvement
Inspectors will consider post-16 provision 'proportionately'