ofsted inspection for an outstanding academy

[bouncycastleparty]

Am I correct in understanding that if a so called ofsted outstanding school converts to an academy they do not get another ofsted inspection unless standards drop?

If this is correct please can any one direct me towards any ofsted information explaining this and advise which measures are deemed by Ofsted to show standards as dropping without an inspection.

This is not just academies. Any school which is classed outstanding will only be inspected if:

• Ofsted receives a complaint that affects the whole school
• the Secretary of State requests an inspection
• Ofsted become aware of information indicating an inspection is required

The kind of information that triggers an inspection includes:

• academic achievement falling
• attendance problems
• the views of parents
• safeguarding/welfare concerns

Oh, and an outstanding school that converts to academy status is treated as a new school so will get a full inspection within three years of opening.

Thanks for this. I had misunderstood as I thought changing to an academy prevented an outstanding school getting another inspection but in fact it appears that it is the reverse and that any outstanding school changing to an academy will then get an inspection within 3 years of the change.

This guidance from the Ofsted website seems to indicate that converter Academies are considered as simply 'following on' from their predecessor school.

www.ofsted.gov.uk/filedownloading/?file=documents/inspection--forms-and-guides/r/Risk%20assessment%20of%20maintained%20schools%20and%20academies.pdf&refer=0

All the schools in our (very small) unitary authority were Ofsted-ed last academic year. Ours was not - despite the fact we converted to an Academy in September 2011. We were due an inspection with all the other schools. We did get grade 1 in all areas at our last inspection.

I think the picture is very unclear to be honest....

My apologies. A new policy was introduced at the beginning of this month which I'd missed, so part of my last answer was wrong. The new policy can be found here.

An academy is regarded as a new school even if it has converted from an existing school. However, a convertor academy will now, as you say, be treated as following on from the predecessor school even though it is regarded as a new school by Ofsted.

So, to go back to the OP's question, converting to academy status now makes no difference to inspections for a school rated outstanding.