A consultation on the future of school inspections in Scotland has started today.
School inspections are changing: shape what’s next invites educators, families and others to share views on “how inspections can best support improvement in schools and provide public confidence in the quality of education”.
Interim chief inspector Janie McManus said: “School inspections must do more than measure performance; they should shine a light on what really makes learners thrive. At their best, inspections amplify strengths, share effective practice and support schools to improve.”
‘Duty to act when the system isn’t delivering’
Ms McManus added: “But we also have a duty to act when the system isn’t delivering what children and young people need. That’s why we want to gather a wide range of perspectives on the current inspection process.”
Ultimately, she said, the process should “shape an inspection system that is responsive to the diverse needs and aspirations of learners and communities across Scotland”.
This consultation seeks views on several key areas, including:
- Who is involved in inspections, and the value they bring.
- How often schools should be inspected, and whether all schools should be visited within a defined period.
- Whether inspection grades should continue, and if the current six-point grading scale is the right approach.
- How inspection findings are reported, and whether the current approach meets the needs of different audiences.
- The notification period before inspections, and whether the current two-and-a-half weeks is appropriate.
- Pre-inspection activities, including self-evaluation and questionnaires.
- The inspection framework, including its format, purpose and content.
- Inspection of nursery classes and whether they should continue to receive separate grades when included in a school inspection.
- Follow-up work with schools, and how inspectors should support improvement after an inspection.
Education secretary Jenny Gilruth said: “High standards are fundamental to our education system, and knowing what works well in our classrooms can, in turn, lead to improved performance.
“This important consultation on school inspection will help us to raise standards and drive improvement in our schools.”
The consultation is open until 26 November, and responses can be .
A is also available.
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