1. When judging the extent to which a school meets the Standards, inspectors will exercise their professional judgement. They will consider the reasonableness of leaders' decision-making and the impact of those decisions on pupils' learning, experience and safety.
  2. Where there is a relative weakness or minor error, inspectors will consider whether that weakness amounts to a failure to meet one or more of the Standards. The scale and impact of any weaknesses or errors will be taken into consideration by inspectors. 
  3. If inspectors find that the relative weakness does not indicate a systemic failure and the relative weakness can easily be rectified in a school’s processes and/ or provision, inspectors will take a proportionate approach.
  4. This will be reflected in the text of the inspection report and will lead to a recommended next step in the inspection report.
  5. Where school leaders make amendments to the school's policies, processes or provision during inspections, inspectors will consider the scale and impact of such amendments and consider their impact on inspection judgements. Inspectors may conclude that changes in a policy document made by school leaders during the course of an inspection are unlikely to be able to be demonstrated as effectively implemented by leaders.
  6. Weaknesses or errors which are indicative of systemic failings in the school's processes and/or provision will lead to a judgement that the relevant Standards are unmet. Systemic failings include decision making by leaders based on a lack of understanding of what is required to meet the Standards, or an inability or reluctance to do what is required.