Best Practice

The new Common Inspection Framework – key changes

Inspection advice/guidance
This term has seen the introduction of Ofsted's new Common Inspection Framework. Suzanne O'Connell takes a more in-depth look at what primary school leaders should be aware of about the changes


The new Common Inspection Framework (CIF) came into effect on September 1. It has been introduced through the publication of three key documents:

There are three significant structural changes to the new framework:

Overall, these changes will be welcomed by schools. There have long been concerns about the consistency and integrity of inspectors. The move towards a more school-based inspection team, trained directly by Ofsted, should improve the view the profession has of inspection.

Launching the CIF, Sir Michael Wilshaw claimed it to be a "new era for Ofsted inspection", with the framework representing the "biggest changes to education inspection for more than two decades".

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