OFSTED

Ofsted is the inspectorate for children and learners in England. It is Ofsted’s job to contribute to the provision of better education and care through effective inspection and regulation.

Ofsted achieve this through a comprehensive system of inspection and regulation covering childcare, schools, colleges, children’s services, teacher training and youth work. Each week, they carry out hundreds of inspections and regulatory visits, helping professionals in education and childcare make a difference to the lives of children and young people.

Ofsted are a non-ministerial government department accountable to Parliament.

Ofsted report

 

Catholic Schools Inspectorate

The inspection of a school under Section 48 (S48) of the 2005 Education Act, provides an independent external evaluation of its effectiveness as a provider of Catholic education and a diagnosis of what it should do to improve, based upon a range of evidence. S48 Inspection, therefore, complements Ofsted Inspections, but should be seen as dealing with matters fundamental to the Catholic school which are not inspected by Ofsted.

In conducting inspections, each diocese is  exercising a pastoral function on behalf of  their Bishop. Inspection is one of the ways a Bishop acts as a shepherd of his schools,  protecting, supporting and encouraging  them. For this reason, dioceses also have  a canonical and legal responsibility to  ensure that the inspection of their schools  witnesses to Catholic values and are compatible with both the teachings of the  Church and the law of the land. Dioceses will exercise this responsibility by  appointing accredited inspectors who are  able to carry out this pastoral and legal  function effectively.

In November 2019, the Bishops’ Conference  unanimously agreed to a National  Framework for the Inspection of Catholic  Schools, Colleges and Academies. This  provided, inter alia, for all inspectors  to be accredited, on behalf of every  diocesan bishop, in accordance with a  nationally agreed protocol approved by the  Department of Education and Formation,  to inspect in any diocese.

However, because many aspects of school life are subject to review processes by such bodies as Ofsted and ISIS, the Self-Review and Evaluation of Catholic Education focuses on the following key aspects:

• Catholic Life and Mission
• Religious Education
• Worship

Diocesan Report (S48)

Religion S48 Diocesan Inspection Report

 

Parent View

Parent View gives you the chance to tell OFSTED what you think about your child’s school.

Parent View asks for your opinion on 12 aspects of your child’s school, from the quality of teaching, to dealing with bullying and poor behaviour.  Ofsted will use the information you provide when making decisions about which schools to inspect, and when.