National Framework

Since September 2022, all denominational inspections within the Archdiocese of Birmingham have been undertaken by the Catholic Schools Inspectorate. 
This document requires school leaders to identify 'strengths' and 'what could be improved' for the three key areas. There is no requirement or expectation for school leaders write to each individual bullet point of the framework.

Optional tool, facilitating the evaluation of governance.
Copy of the surveys issued to parents and pupils during inspection.
Compare your school's demographics to the national picture.

Compliance Checks

Compliance checks resumed from September 2023.

Compliance Checks, which are for schools graded Good or better, usually take place mid-way through the inspection cycle, i.e. by the end of the third academic year following inspection.

Their purpose is to confirm there is no issue of compliance that would limit the outcome of a school’s next Catholic Schools Inspectorate inspection by ensuring that:
  1. a school meets all the requirements of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales
  2. a school meets all of the requirements of the Archbishop of Birmingham
  3. a school’s approach to planning enables it to respond to the Areas for Improvement identified in its previous denominational inspection
  4. a school's current development plans relating to inspection are fit for purpose.
 
Initially, these checks will be undertaken remotely. Schools will receive email notification containing further information on how to submit the following documentation:
  • ​Individual classroom timetables (primary) or whole-school timetable (secondary)
  • Monitoring of areas for improvement identified in previous inspection report (by providing a copy of the 'Response to Last Inspection' page from your CSED, for example)
  • Current development plans for Catholic life and mission, religious education, and collective worship
  • Schemes of work (secondary)

​Following the remote check, a short conversation via Zoom may be held between the DES and senior leaders. At the end the review, a Statement of Compliance will be issued to the school detailing its compliance in each of the areas above.

Monitoring Visits

For schools graded less than Good in their most recent denominational inspection, Monitoring Visits will usually occur in the second academic year following inspection. These visits are in lieu of a Compliance Check.

These half-day on-site visits involve:
  1. ​meetings with the head teacher and religious education subject leader
  2. a learning walk to observe learning in religious education and to look at the site's physical expression of its Catholic life and mission
  3. a pupil voice activity.

Notice of Deferral (for Ofsted)

When the archdiocese is notified that a school, which has not undergone denominational inspection within the last five years, is to undergo an Ofsted inspection, a Notice of Deferral will be sent electronically to the head teacher to explain that a school has not undergone a denominational inspection within the usual timeframe, due to the pandemic. This notice should be shared with the lead inspector.
 
The DfE has assured the CES that such a letter will be considered as a legitimate and valid reason for deferral of denominational inspection by Ofsted inspectors.