1. All information relating to inspection is highly confidential and may not be shared beyond those directly involved in the inspection or the quality assurance and complaints processes. Inspectors must ensure that the information relating to the timing of an inspection, prior to the notification to the school, is held in strict confidence. Inspectors must also ensure that the provisional outcome of an inspection, prior to report publication, is held in strict confidence.
  2. Inspectors view and record sensitive information provided by schools. Schools are not required to anonymise information for inspectors. Inspectors may review personal information during the onsite inspection such as the names of pupils in registers or in records or files, and the names of staff in their files. Inspectors may make notes of such information. Inspectors typically may not record the names of pupils or adults and may not take copies of documents that include names without redaction. There may be, by exception only, occasions when names must be recorded as directed by Senior Directors at ISI.
  3. Inspectors will record the information they need to gather and evaluate evidence to make judgements. Inspectors must not record the names of individual. Inspectors will record the title or role of individuals involved in inspection activities.
  4. During the inspection, inspectors must take care to preserve confidentiality and to protect the privacy of the pupils and staff including by:
    • ensuring that confidential discussions cannot be overheard
    • keeping confidential information safe and refraining from removing confidential information from the school
    • locking laptops with password protection and avoiding using data storage devices (any devices used must be password protected)
    • being aware that some pupils may not want to be involved in the inspection and making clear that pupils' participation in discussions is voluntary
    • ensuring that inspectors are aware of any additional needs a pupil may have, their preferred means of communication and any support that they may require
    • explaining to pupils that inspectors will not share any comments that may identify them, unless individuals are at risk of harm.
  5. All information must be managed securely and uploaded to ISI secure systems immediately following the inspection. Once the evidence has been uploaded to ISI systems, inspectors are not permitted to hold inspection information on their personal devices under any circumstances. Inspection information must be removed from inspectors' personal devices no later than four days following the end of the onsite inspection.
  6. Inspectors use the inspection virtual team room on ISI's portal to communicate with other members of the inspection team and to transfer any documentation. The reporting inspector will provide and receive information to and from the school via the virtual team room. Inspectors must not use email to transfer sensitive information regarding inspections. Inspectors must do all they can to reduce the use of email for inspection matters.
  7. Inspectors must be familiar with ISI's data protection policy and ISI's personal data breach policy and refer to these policies if they suspect a security or data breach has occurred.