Moreover, additional requirements added late in the day to the framework, make it difficult for schools to have time to prepare as to what is expected from inspections or how they may challenge any Ofsted reports.
Our education team can support you in preparing for an Ofsted inspection. This may, for example, include a full risk and compliance assessment that would take a deep dive into your school. We would look at compliance with statutory legislation and guidance; review pastoral policies; carry out a safeguarding audit; look at examples of how parental complaints are managed; review any health and safety incidents; and carry out an external governance audit of your school.
We are able to support your school with guidance on the recent changes to the Ofsted inspection process. If the outcome of an inspection is not as hoped, we can support your school to challenge the Ofsted decision, ensuring the challenge meets the required steps by Ofsted to have the best chance of success (considering matters such as the conduct of the inspectors; inspection feedback; and any inconsistencies with the final report. We can prepare complaints to Ofsted and advise on injunctions to prevent publication of a contested report.