There are a number of different factors to take into account when deciding whether or not inspectorates should be approved to inspect British schools overseas.
Inspectorates must demonstrate they are technically proficient and objective, using well-qualified, trained and experienced inspectors. They should have good monitoring procedures. They must be independent from the schools they inspect through their constitution, staff appointment arrangements, and any other relationships between schools and the inspection body other than payment of an inspection fee. The managing Board should have significant expertise, independent of the organisation concerned, to ensure an external perspective is brought to bear on the management of the inspection body, including a knowledge of the strengths of both British and international education and inspection.
The arrangements have to command public confidence and be publicly accountable. The public needs to perceive the inspection body as competent and independent – with an objective and wide-ranging perspective on school inspection and performance gleaned from inspecting a diverse range of comparator UK and British schools overseas. The inspectorate must provide evidence it has both capacity and the financial security to inspect a minimum number of schools each year and that it can sustain its planning over the cycle of inspections in the future.
In this section you can find information about the standards in place to ensure inspectorates meet their responsibilities.
