Schools: For Schools

Inspecting independent schools

Ofsted inspects independent schools which are not members of associations. We do this at the request of the Department for Education, which is the registering authority for all independent schools.

The purpose of the inspection is to ensure that independent schools comply with The Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2010, which specify the provision a school should make.

In inspecting these schools, Ofsted uses the powers granted by section 162A of the Education Act 2002, as amended by Schedule 8 of the Education Act 2005. For this reason independent school inspections are sometimes known as 'section 162A inspections'.

We usually carry out inspections of educational provision in non-association independent schools every three years. In the case of independent boarding schools, the education inspection will normally be conducted at the same time as an inspection of its boarding provision, in an ‘integrated inspection’. Independent residential special schools also usually receive an integrated inspection every three years. In addition to this, we inspect their residential provision on an annual basis. For further information on inspections of boarding and residential special schools, go to the Inspecting boarding and residential special schools page.

All inspections result in a report which is published on Ofsted’s website.

The Department for Education also sometimes asks us to undertake additional inspections within the three-year cycle. They may ask us to visit the school to follow up on progress in implementing an action plan. This would usually only happen if an education or welfare inspection showed that a school was not meeting some regulations or the requirements of the National Minimum Standards.

The Department for Education may also request us to undertake further inspections of a school where the school is proposing a change of proprietor, address, age range, number or gender of boarders, or if pupils with special educational needs join the school. We may also be asked to undertake an emergency visit where they have concerns about a school or would like us to investigate a specific matter at short notice.

New schools are inspected prior to opening to check that they meet the requirements for registration. In addition to this they will receive an inspection which takes place around the first anniversary of their registration to ensure continuing compliance. 

Before an inspection

The Before an independent school inspection page tells you what happens before an inspection. It covers issues like the lead inspector’s contact with the school and the lead inspector looking at the school’s evaluation of their provision (if available) and other pre-inspection evidence. There is additional information for you about an inspection.

During an inspection

The During an independent school inspection page tells you what happens during an inspection. It covers activities that take place on different days of the inspection.

After an inspection

The After an independent school inspection page tells you what happens after an inspection. It covers issues like the post-inspection survey, judgments and the inspection report.

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