1. The schools that the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) inspects are independent of government and exercise their independence in the choices proprietors and leaders make to educate their pupils. However, all independent schools must also meet the Independent School Standards (ISSR) and, where applicable, the National Minimum Standards for boarding schools (NMS for boarding schools) and Early Years Foundation Stage requirements. Collectively, these, and any other standards that may be applicable to the schools inspected by ISI, are referred to throughout the document as 'the Standards'.
  2. It is the duty of the proprietor (to include those with governance responsibility) to ensure that persons with leadership and management responsibilities at the school:
    1. demonstrate good skills and knowledge appropriate to their role so that the Standards are met consistently
    2. fulfil their responsibilities effectively so that the Standards aremet consistently; and
    3. actively promote the wellbeing of pupils.

    ISI inspections evaluate and report publicly on the extent to which each school meets the Standards.
  3. The Department for Education (DfE) publishes advice to schools to help the proprietors and leaders understand the Standards: The Independent School Standards Guidance for independent schools. As this guidance says, 'The approach behind the standards is to focus on required outcomes. It is not the intention to tell schools how to govern or manage themselves – i.e. about how they are to go about achieving the required outcomes.'
  4. ISI echoes this approach on inspection. There is no preferred way by which ISI expects schools to meet any of the relevant Standards, and ISI does not think that there is a best way of doing things in schools. However, ISI inspectors may flag the existence of resources that schools may find helpful to consider, particularly if those resources are advice and guidance published or referred to by the DfE.
  5. The DfE has also issued guidance for schools which outlines the usual processes the DfE will follow if a school fails to meet the Standards: Independent Schools: Regulatory and Enforcement Action Policy Statement. Ultimately, failure to meet the Standards can lead to de-registration of a school.
  6. This handbook lays out for inspectors the methodology of inspections carried out by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI). It provides guidance to inspectors in conducting routine inspections under the Framework for the inspection of association independent schools ('the ISI Framework') from September 2023. This handbook is available to schools and other stakeholders. This is to aid understanding of ISI's approach to quality assurance and inspection.
  7. This handbook is a working document and will be updated regularly. The handbook should be read in conjunction with the ISI Framework.
  8. Each inspection is unique to the context of the school. This handbook does not provide a blueprint for inspection. It should be used flexibly by inspectors, depending on the context of the school being inspected. However, inspectors will adhere to the principles of inspection outlined in the ISI Framework and follow the inspection methodology set out in this handbook.
  9. ISI inspection methodology outlined in this handbook applies to all ISI inspections. However, the processes of inspections (e.g. notification, timing and duration) will be different for non-routine inspections. Therefore, this handbook does not apply in its entirety to non-routine inspections that the DfE may commission ISI to carry out. These inspections are covered under separate guidance. Non-routine inspections are additional inspections, progress monitoring inspections and material change inspections.
  10. Where schools have linked early years provision that is registered with Ofsted, ISI will inspect using the guidance contained in ISI's handbook for the inspection of Ofsted registered early years provision. Registered early years provision will usually be inspected at the same time as the ISI inspection of the main school. The registered early years ISI report will be included in the main school ISI report.