Management Information Sheet
Monitoring visits for schools that require improvement
Colleagues will know that changes to the inspection framework in September 2012, resulted in the removal of the ‘satisfactory’ designation and its replacement with the phrase ‘requires improvement’ for those schools judged to be Grade 3.While the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted) is keen to emphasise that ‘requires improvement’ is not a ‘category’, (such as ‘special measures’), nevertheless there will be a more rigorous regime of monitoring for schools judged to require improvement.
In late October 2012, further guidance on the nature and frequency of this monitoring was issued in ‘Monitoring visits and support for schools that require improvement in order to become good or outstanding’. (See link below). In the light of this guidance, both schools and the local authority will need to review current working procedures.
www.ofsted.gov.uk
In summary, this guidance document explains that where schools are judged to ‘require improvement’ AND where the leadership and management of the school are not judged to be good or outstanding, then the school will receive a monitoring visit from an HMI, usually between four and six weeks after the inspection finishes.
Notification of these visits will be by telephone, to the school, up to five days in advance. Guidance makes it clear that HMI will expect to conduct a separate conversation with a representative of the local authority (LA). HMI will not make separate contact with the local authority, so it is essential that schools contact the LA Helpline (01603 307797 during office hours; 07876137828 out of hours) as soon as the HMI call is received.
The purpose of the visit is to focus on the actions that the school has taken, since the inspection, to address the areas requiring improvement. The local authority will be asked whether, in its view, the actions taken have been sufficiently well-directed and timely. HMI will also consider the quality and impact of any external support.
Clearly, governing bodies and head teachers of schools judged to ‘require improvement’ will need to take action as soon as possible after the inspection. Any intentions will need to be shared with the appropriate local authority representative within two to three working weeks following the inspection, so that appropriate advice and guidance can be provided and any amendments to action plans can be assessed prior to the monitoring visit.
The guidance document points out that where post-inspection actions are found to be robust and appropriate, there is unlikely to be the need for a further visit before the next scheduled inspection, that will take place no more than 24 months after the inspection at which the school was found to ‘require improvement’. A further visit may be required where actions are considered to be unlikely to bring about the required improvement.
In many cases, the local authority representative attending the post-inspection feedback will be the key contact throughout the process. Where this is not the case, schools will be informed of their key contact either at, or very shortly after, the feedback meeting.
If you have any queries arising from this change to the inspection procedures, please do not hesitate to contact the Helpline on the number above.
In late October 2012, further guidance on the nature and frequency of this monitoring was issued in ‘Monitoring visits and support for schools that require improvement in order to become good or outstanding’. (See link below). In the light of this guidance, both schools and the local authority will need to review current working procedures.
www.ofsted.gov.uk
In summary, this guidance document explains that where schools are judged to ‘require improvement’ AND where the leadership and management of the school are not judged to be good or outstanding, then the school will receive a monitoring visit from an HMI, usually between four and six weeks after the inspection finishes.
Notification of these visits will be by telephone, to the school, up to five days in advance. Guidance makes it clear that HMI will expect to conduct a separate conversation with a representative of the local authority (LA). HMI will not make separate contact with the local authority, so it is essential that schools contact the LA Helpline (01603 307797 during office hours; 07876137828 out of hours) as soon as the HMI call is received.
The purpose of the visit is to focus on the actions that the school has taken, since the inspection, to address the areas requiring improvement. The local authority will be asked whether, in its view, the actions taken have been sufficiently well-directed and timely. HMI will also consider the quality and impact of any external support.
Clearly, governing bodies and head teachers of schools judged to ‘require improvement’ will need to take action as soon as possible after the inspection. Any intentions will need to be shared with the appropriate local authority representative within two to three working weeks following the inspection, so that appropriate advice and guidance can be provided and any amendments to action plans can be assessed prior to the monitoring visit.
The guidance document points out that where post-inspection actions are found to be robust and appropriate, there is unlikely to be the need for a further visit before the next scheduled inspection, that will take place no more than 24 months after the inspection at which the school was found to ‘require improvement’. A further visit may be required where actions are considered to be unlikely to bring about the required improvement.
In many cases, the local authority representative attending the post-inspection feedback will be the key contact throughout the process. Where this is not the case, schools will be informed of their key contact either at, or very shortly after, the feedback meeting.
If you have any queries arising from this change to the inspection procedures, please do not hesitate to contact the Helpline on the number above.