Inspection

The latest news, analysis and opinion on inspections at schools in the UK and overseas, from updates to inspection frameworks and guidance on how to prepare

Tuesday

13th May 2025

How Estonia became education’s newest rising star
Estonia is one of Pisa’s biggest success stories, but what’s behind the country’s impressive results? Henry Hepburn finds out in an exclusive interview with education minister Kristina Kallas
Estonia montage

Monday

12th May 2025

Ofsted consultation response ‘later than hoped’ but no plan to delay inspections
Staff have been told the inspectorate’s response to its consultation will likely be later than it had planned but that it is not looking to delay its new inspections
People waiting at a bus stop
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Friday

9th May 2025

Pay offer delay leaves Scottish teachers feeling ‘undervalued and ignored’
Class-contact time, recruitment crises and fear-inducing school inspections also set out as priorities for change by the Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association
Pay offer delay leaves Scottish teachers feeling ‘undervalued and ignored’
Heads legally powerless to avoid Ofsted report card inspections
The NAHT has taken legal action against Ofsted’s recent consultation. But, regardless of the outcome, schools will have to participate in inspections, say legal experts
Heads legally powerless to avoid Ofsted report card inspections

Saturday

3rd May 2025

NAHT to take Ofsted to court over school report cards
School leaders’ union issues a claim for a judicial review against Ofsted in response to its proposed changes to the inspection system
NAHT to take Ofsted to court over school report cards

Friday

2nd May 2025

NAHT leader urges Oliver to scrap inspection plans
Union’s general secretary calls for an Ofsted system that ‘doesn’t pile additional pressure onto an already stretched profession’
Whiteman urges Oliver to scrap inspection plans

Wednesday

30th Apr 2025

Senior leaders aspiring to headship falls to record low
Almost half of heads say they need mental health support, and a third are already receiving support, finds survey
A small group of people trying to climb a wall using a ladder

Tuesday

29th Apr 2025

ASN ‘crisis’ leaving school staff ‘overwhelmed’, warns SSTA
‘More and more’ pupils with additional support needs are being placed in mainstream classes despite cuts to specialist staff, says president of Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association
Boat in a storm

Monday

28th Apr 2025

Attempt to fill top Scottish education jobs fails again
For the second time, the processes to recruit both a chief inspector of education and a chief executive of Education Scotland have not led to appointments
Attempt to fill top Scottish education jobs fails again
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Delay new Ofsted inspections or risk further deaths, Phillipson told
Coalition of education unions, headteachers and former senior inspectors warns the education secretary about the watchdog’s school report card proposals
Bridget Phillipson Ofsted

Friday

25th Apr 2025

Teacher trainers warn Ofsted plans will cause confusion
Ofsted’s proposed toolkits for the inspection of initial teacher education are ‘underdeveloped’ and likely to lead to ‘unacceptable variations’, says NASBTT
Misleading sign posts
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Thursday

24th Apr 2025

Ofsted plans ‘risk the health and wellbeing’ of school leaders
NAHT accuses the inspectorate of not assessing how its proposed changes to inspection could impact school staff workload
Ofsted plans risk the health and wellbeing of school leaders, a union has warned.