Routine Ofsted inspections after September 2021: impact of COVID-19

Ofsted restarted routine inspections in September 2021 for all school types and grades. See how inspectors consider the impact of COVID-19 alongside the usual procedures.

Last reviewed on 27 July 2022
School types: All · School phases: All
Ref: 39194
Contents
  1. Routine process remains largely the same, but with extended inspection intervals
  2. Inspectors will still take COVID-19 into account
  3. During the preparation call
  4. When evaluating your school's curriculum
  5. When evaluating your school's leadership
  6. When evaluating personal development
  7. Considering safeguarding and attendance
  8. Looking at external data
  9. Disapplication and modification of the EYFS
  10. Inspectors will consider staff wellbeing

Routine process remains largely the same, but with extended inspection intervals

Ofsted restarted routine, graded inspections from September 2021 after the hiatus due to COVID-19. In the main, inspections will follow the usual procedures:

  • If your school is 'good' or 'outstanding', it will get a section 8 inspection lasting 2 days
  • If your school 'requires improvement', it will be re-inspected under section 5 and may also be monitored if it receives 2 or more successive ‘overall effectiveness’ judgements of 'requires improvement'
  • If your school offers early years provision or is a maintained nursery school, Ofsted will inspect this as part of its regular inspection
  • If your school is a non-association independent school, Ofsted's handbook sets out the process

The guidance below applies to maintained schools, academies,

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