Ofsted frequency

[redskybynight]

How often do Ofsted inspect these days? The DC's school was last inspected in 2011, is it likely they are due an inspection soon?

If they are currently graded good or outstanding, Ofsted might not turn up for years to come, unless they have a dip in their exam results...

I wondered the same about my children's school. They last had a full inspection on 29th-30th September 2009. So just over 5 years ago. I thought it had to be at least ever 5 years.

They got Good last time

It's supposed to be about every 5 years for good schools, but "good" schools with relatively stable exam results are often left longer, ime. Wilshaw, I think, wants to change the inspection regime to make more frequent but shorter inspections for good schools, rather than the current full-on process with very long gaps in between.

Oh, and I think the "risk assessment" on good schools starts 3 years after the last Ofsted - ie that's when they start looking at exam results to see whether they should come in sooner.

I think the "risk assessment" also covers things like attendance figures, safeguarding, qualifying complaints against the school.

Thanks

Ofsted's latest guide for parents (dated September 2014) states this:

When do inspections happen and how long do they last?

A school that was judged to be outstanding at its last inspection is exempt from routine inspection. We will not normally inspect ‘exempt schools’ unless we have a concern about their performance. Ofsted will also carry out an annual assessment of an exempt school’s performance (from the third year after the school’s last inspection) to determine whether an inspection might be necessary. Exempt schools continue to be inspected as part of Ofsted’s programme of surveys of curriculum subjects and aspects of the curriculum. Exemption from inspection does not apply to maintained nursery schools, Special Schools or Pupil Referral Units.

A school judged to be ‘good’ is normally inspected within five school years from the end of the school year in which it was last inspected.

A school judged as ‘requires improvement’ will be subject to monitoring from inspectors to check its progress and is inspected within a period of two years. If at that inspection it is still judged as ‘requires improvement’, there will be further monitoring, and another inspection will take place within a further two years. If at this inspection it is still not ‘good’, it is highly likely that it will be judged ‘inadequate’ and deemed to require special measures.

Most schools receive notice of their inspection on the afternoon of the working day before the inspection begins. However, Ofsted can inspect any school without notice where this is judged to be appropriate. The inspection usually lasts for two days and the number of inspectors on the inspection team will vary according to the size and nature of the school.

www.ofsted.gov.uk/sites/default/files/documents/inspection--forms-and-guides/s/School%20inspections%20-%20a%20guide%20for%20parents.pdf

Thanks Pennybe. Ours will probably be done by the end of this school year then.

My DC senior school hasn't been done for a very long time (7 years at least) and I'm not sure it will be done this one, judging from that guidance. Even though it has officially shut and re-opened and has a new head.