Standards that inspectorates must meet:
Technical proficiency, independence and objectivity

To ensure an inspectorate is technically proficient, the following criteria is used to assess an application for approval:

An inspectorate wishing to be approved to inspect British international schools should be able to demonstrate that it

• is independent of each commissioning school or commissioning organisation
• has relevant expertise and experience of independent school inspection in the UK and/or British curriculum schools overseas
• has appropriate knowledge and understanding of international schools
• has appropriate knowledge and understanding of independent schools in the UK and their curriculum approaches
• has knowledge and understanding of the regulatory requirements for independent schools in the UK and the published standards for British schools overseas
• will organise inspection teams that will be well matched against the particular needs of the inspected institutions
• has appropriate systems for recruiting and training inspectors
• will work to a code of conduct consistent with that used by national- and approved inspectorates in the UK
• will provide inspectors with appropriate initial training and keep them up-to-date with educational developments and requirements in the UK
• can demonstrate strong arrangements for assuring the quality of their inspections and reports, and
• can demonstrate effective liaison and working arrangements with other inspectorates and public bodies in the UK and overseas.

Each inspectorate should propose an inspection framework that describes to the Department's satisfaction. It should provide information about 

• the structure and length of the inspection process from planning and notification through to report publication
• the composition of the inspection team
• the inspection schedules to be used, including a demonstration of how the published standards are to be met
• the format of feedback to be provided, and
• the format of inspection reports and the arrangements for publication.

Each inspectorate should explain how the inspections are to be managed, including 

• the programme of inspections
• the staffing and general organisation of inspections
• the support systems
• contingency arrangements, and
• ensuring that inspections and all associated activities are self-financing.

Each inspectorate should explain how inspections are to be monitored, including

• the operation of internal quality assurance procedures 
• the provision of support and guidance for inspectors 
• assuring the quality of written reports; and 
• holding and maintaining records in accordance with English law, which would be available for scrutiny by the monitoring body where appropriate.

Each inspectorate applying for approval must be able to show that

• it is not connected with the institutions it inspects in any way that might impair, or be seen to impair, objectivity. This would include engaging in advisory work both before and after inspection, and business or other links
• inspectors are not connected with the institutions they inspect in any way that might impair, or be seen to impair, their objectivity. Factors that could lead to impaired objectivity include family ties, business or social links to the proprietor or any member of any organisation named as proprietor, and connections with staff or pupils. Inspectors should not have worked at an inspected school or given advice to it for a period of at least six years
• inspectors are not biased in any way in favour or against any particular institutions
• inspectors make consistent and objective judgements
• all lead inspectors have experience of inspecting a wide range of schools. Any other inspectors, not in a lead role, should have relevant experience and expertise and hold QTS or other equivalent qualifications
• the inspectorate is legally independent from the schools it serves and has independent expertise on its managing board that will ensure it is aware of best practice and remains up to date with emerging regulatory changes in the UK
• the managing board, or equivalent, that controls the inspectorate has a minimum of two independent members who are experts in relevant fields and have no connections with inspected schools that could impair objectivity
• no other Board members should have connections with inspected schools that could impair objectivity and there are arrangements in place to manage conflicts of interest along the lines of best corporate and charitable practice in the UK
• the appointment terms of the chief inspector or equivalent allow him/her to exercise full professional independence and the appointment process ensures he/she has no prior association with the schools inspected that could impair his/her objectivity
• the chief inspector or equivalent is required to notify the Department of any attempts by schools, associations or other school representatives, to influence the management of the inspection service, and
• the terms of appointment of all other inspectors will allow them to exercise professional independence and prevent them from inspecting schools they have engaged with in an advisory capacity.

Each inspectorate will need to demonstrate the composition of the pool of inspectors meets the standards below.

Inspectors must

• have at least five years’ teaching experience
• have held at least one post of significant whole-school responsibility in a British curriculum school, either in the UK or overseas
• have undergone a CRB or equivalent check within the past three years and appropriate appointment checks (references, medical declaration and check of qualifications). From November 2010, inspectors will be required to register with the Independent Safeguarding Authority in the UK
• have undertaken appropriate training from the inspectorate, which includes recent experience inspecting in the UK or in British curriculum schools overseas
• be able to demonstrate an up-to-date knowledge of educational standards in British schools. This would include experience of teaching or inspecting in the UK within the last three years, and
• not have been a headteacher or deputy, proprietor or governor of a UK maintained school placed in special measures or requiring significant improvement, or of an independent school that has been judged inadequate in substantial aspects of its provision (unless there are mitigating circumstances such as having been drafted in specifically to help to improve the school).

Lead inspectors must satisfy all the criteria above and in addition

• have held a senior post of responsibility in a British maintained or independent school in the UK for at least three years and/or worked successfully as an inspector for a national or approved inspectorate in the UK
• have undertaken training to be a lead inspector overseas and been assessed as fit to lead inspection overseas by the relevant inspectorate
• have no conflicting interest in any of the schools they inspect, other than their personal salary from the inspectorate.

The chief inspector or equivalent of an inspectorate must satisfy all the criteria above and in addition

• demonstrate substantial knowledge of the service’s remit
• have substantial experience of inspection work, including at least five years' experience as a lead inspector in the UK
• be able to demonstrate integrity, impartiality and independence from the schools in the inspectorate's remit and have no connection with any member of the Board of directors of the inspectorate that could impair or be seen to impair that independence.

Each inspectorate should demonstrate it can deploy inspectors experienced and well qualified to cover

• a range of different sized schools
• Early Years, primary and secondary age range schools
• day and boarding schools
• a range of approaches to the British curriculum, including a diverse range of qualifications used for entry into British educational institutions (e.g. A Level/GCSE, iGCSE, IB, highers, diplomas and vocational qualifications)
• schools serving different geographic areas, and pupils from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

The inspectorate will need to demonstrate it has an internal review process to handle complaints fairly, objectively, within a specified timeframe, and involving members of the inspection service who were not involved in the original inspection. Each service will be required to have a procedure for independent adjudication of complaints.