Important Information
In light of the COVID-19 crisis, the Diocesan Education Service is suspending the Section 48 inspection schedule until further notice. This means that any school anticipating their inspection imminently will not be inspected until further notice.
 
With inspections being delayed, there will be an inevitable backlog of pending inspections. This could potentially cause problems for diocesan schools and academies who are legally required to secure a Section 48 inspection before the end of the third or fifth year following the academic year in which they were last inspected. As you know, failure to comply with this requirement is now something lead inspectors are required to report in Ofsted inspections (Ofsted, School Inspection Handbook, November 2019, paragraph 37). Ofsted have made it clear to us that they will require schools to explain their non-compliance but would recognise the current situation as an exceptional circumstance that would legitimise deferral. Such explanations will not be required until September 2020. Ofsted have said they would expect a formal note of deferral from the archdiocese in such circumstances, which we will formally issue to individual schools.
 
Section 48 Monitoring Visits will also be suspended until further notice.
 
It is hoped that this move will alleviate some of the additional pressure that our schools are currently experiencing and enable leaders to focus on the day-to-day running of their schools and in-house management of the crisis we face. Every member of our diocesan family is at the forefront of our prayers at this time. In what is an unprecedented era, with much uncertainty and anxiety, we hope you can take comfort from knowing that we are walking this journey with you, and are asking the Holy Spirit to be with you, strengthen you and be your advocate and guide. 
 
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid and don’t panic, for I, the Lord your God, am with you in all you do.” (Joshua 1:9)

Section 48 Inspectors' Portal

Schedule of Section 48 Inspections and Monitoring Visits

•Schools that were judged good or better at their last inspection will be inspected 5 years later.
These schools will also have a monitoring visit 3 years and a term after their last inspection.
•Schools that were judged less than good at their last inspection will be inspected 3 years later.
​They will receive a monitoring visit 1 year and a term after their last inspection.
•Schools are notified two weeks in advance of their inspection or monitoring visit.​

RE AND CATHOLIC LIFE

the relationship between s5 & s48 inspections

CES annual self evaluation of the governing body

Inspection Documents 

Framework for the Inspection of Catholic Schools

S48 Framework pdf

S48 Framework Word

Self Evaluation Forms

Primary SEF

Section 48 Training Presentation

Secondary SEF

The following resources are available to support schools in monitoring and evaluating Catholic Life. They are NOT compulsory.

Annual Monitoring Schedule

Termly Monitoring and Evaluation Record

Section 48 Inspectors

Krystyna Bickley
Victoria Brickley
Rose Brookes
Stephen Burns
Louise Bury
Kate Clarke 
Sister Susan Collins
Marie Conway
Bernadette Corbett
Louisa Craig
Mary Daniels
Tara Davies
Melanie Elliott
Debbie Enstone
Christine Finnegan
Rachel Girling
Stephen Godber
Veronica Gosling
Sarah Hatfield
Mark Hinton
Suzanne Horan

Debbie Huxtable
​Mary Johnson
Paul Madia
Chris Martin
Andrew Maund
Ben McArdle
Geraldine McCauley
Greg McClarey
Janet Mellor
Alexandra Moakes
Rebecca Nash
Karyn Oakley
Maureen O'Leary
Jean Richmond
Julie-Anne Tallon
Christine Walker
Michelle Walsh
Francis Waugh
Rachel Waugh