Ofsted updates school inspection handbooks
Ofsted has published updates to its state-funded school inspection handbooks as well as its deferral, pausing and gathering additional evidence policy, ahead of routine school inspections returning on 23 September.
From this term, state-funded schools will not receive an overall effectiveness grade during graded inspections, following the decision by the Department for Education (DfE).
The handbooks have also been updated to reflect the previously announced changes to ungraded inspections, designed to reduce the burden on school leaders and allow more time and flexibility for inspectors to get to know the school, including its context and priorities.
Further changes include an update to how Ofsted notifies schools of inspections. Notifications for graded and ungraded inspections will now be carried out only on the Monday mornings of the week Ofsted will inspect the school.
Other updates include a change to allow schools which have issues with safeguarding.
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