The self-evaluation form (SEF): governors' role

Get to grips with the purpose of a self-evaluation form (SEF) and what you're meant to do with it. Plus, understand the difference between the SEF and the SIP.

Last reviewed on 3 October 2025See updates
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Contents
  1. A SEF is a snapshot of your school at a point in time
  2. What's in the SEF
  3. What you should do with it
  4. See examples from schools

A SEF is a snapshot of your school at a point in time

It identifies your school's strengths and weaknesses and (often) grades the school against the Ofsted inspection framework or another basis for grading. In completing the self-evaluation form (SEF), your senior leadership team can determine which areas of improvement to focus on.

There's no set format that your school has to use to present the SEF

Your leaders might choose to organise your school's SEF around the inspection framework and school inspection toolkit. This may help them to evaluate where your school currently sits on the 5-point grading scale for each evaluation area.

However, Ofsted doesn't require, or expect, schools to complete a formal, written self-evaluation using the inspection criteria. Inspectors only want to see that that your school has a clear and strategic approach to improvement. 

It's part of your school's wider