INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS INSPECTORATE
INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS INSPECTORATE (ISI)
ISI is committed to promoting rigorous quality assurance of education. ISI’s clear focus during inspection on the statutory requirements of the Independent School Standards ensures that school leaders and governors are aware of their accountability in running an independent school. ISI reports to the Department for Education on the extent to which these schools meet the statutory Independent School Standards.
For schools providing pupil accommodation, ISI also inspects against additional requirements set out in the National Minimum Standards (NMS) for Boarding Schools. In addition, ISI inspects registered early years provision that is linked to the independent schools we inspect on behalf of Ofsted, adhering to Ofsted’s inspection framework. The inspection of such registered early years provision typically takes place at the same time as the inspection of the linked independent school.
All inspection reports are published on the ISI website.
Schools are inspected routinely twice within a six-year cycle or as directed by the Department for Education. Under ISI’s current inspection framework, there is one type of routine inspection. This promotes clarity and consistency in their reporting over time.
There are also non-routine inspections where the Department for Education have reason for a school to be inspected outside of the six-year routine cycle .
Safeguarding is a focus of all inspections. Inspectors review evidence relating to a school’s safeguarding arrangements and report to the Department for Education on the extent to which schools meet their responsibilities. Listening to pupils is central to this process, and every inspection uses anonymous pupil, parent and staff questionnaires as a crucial part of the inspection evidence. Inspectors also speak to pupils during inspection.
Quality assurance is embedded at every stage of ISI’s inspection process. This includes a high-quality training and development programme for their 1000-strong inspector workforce. Every year ISI delivers, on average, over 300 hours of professional development training for inspectors. To support ISI’s promotion of rigorous quality assurance, the inspection methodology is published in ISI’s handbooks so that school leaders have insight into ISI’s approach to quality assurance.
ISI’s independence is essential to delivering reliable and valid judgements on the schools they inspect. Its governance structure and policies ensure ISI operates as a fully independent inspectorate. ISI has an independent Board of Directors, which holds senior leaders to account.
ISI is also approved by the Department for Education to inspect British schools overseas (BSO). BSO is the UK government voluntary accreditation scheme for overseas schools. To retain BSO status, schools must be inspected every three years and continue to meet all standards.
Independent Schools Inspectorate
CAP House, 9–12 Long Lane, London EC1A 9HA