Our role and remit
FAQs
ISI is appointed by the Department for Education to inspect association independent schools in England.
Our inspection reports inform the Department for Education on the extent to which the statutory Independent School Standards are met.
Inspectors consider a number of requirements relating to safeguarding, including:
• the welfare, health and safety of pupils;
• suitability of staff, supply staff and proprietors; and
• premises of and accommodation at schools.
ISI is formally approved by the Secretary of State for Education to inspect independent schools in England that are members of associations affiliated to the Independent Schools Council. This covers over 1,290 independent schools, which currently educate over 500,000 pupils.
Ofsted inspects all independent schools in England that are not a member of associations affiliated to the Independent Schools Council. This covers just under half of all independent schools in England.
To see if a school is inspected by ISI or Ofsted, please use the search function on the Department for Education's register of schools and colleges in England.
Safeguarding is embedded throughout the regulatory requirements that ISI inspects against and evaluated on every inspection. These requirements incorporate the following statutory guidance relating to safeguarding:
• Keeping children safe in education
• Working together to safeguard children
• Relationships and sex education and health education (RSHE)
Our inspectors consider evidence relating to a school’s safeguarding arrangements and culture throughout an inspection.