ISI vs Ofsted: What SLT Need to Know When Moving Sectors

Making the move from a maintained or academy school to an independent school—or vice versa—is a significant decision for any school leader. It’s not just a personal career change; it impacts the entire school community. Understanding the differences between inspection frameworks—particularly ISI vs Ofsted—along with compliance requirements and governance, is essential for a smooth transition.

ISI vs Ofsted: Key Differences

Schools moving between sectors often encounter significant differences in inspection regimes:

Ofsted (2025 Framework) applies six core judgements, including Curriculum & Teaching, leadership, inclusion, and wellbeing. Reports combine narrative feedback with a five-point grading scale: Exceptional, Strong Standard, Expected Standard, Attention Needed, Urgent Improvement.

ISI (Independent Schools Inspectorate) focuses on compliance with the Independent School Standards and evaluates educational quality against the school’s own aims. Reports are narrative-based, without grades, and tailored to the ethos of independent schools.

For schools, this means adjusting policies, evidence systems, and governance structures to meet the expectations of the relevant inspectorate.

Curriculum & Teaching: ISI vs Ofsted

Under Ofsted’s current framework, schools must demonstrate:

• Ambition and coherence of the curriculum
• How teaching enables learning and progression
• Inclusion and accessibility for all pupils
• Impact on pupils’ knowledge, skills, and personal development

ISI inspections, however, ask: How well does the school deliver on its own stated aims? This requires schools to articulate their educational vision clearly and ensure that practice reflects that mission.

Governance and Compliance Challenges

Independent schools operate under different governance models, often with boards of trustees and charitable status. Compliance extends beyond education to include safeguarding, EYFS, and boarding standards. Schools transitioning into or out of the independent sector need robust systems to ensure statutory and regulatory requirements are met.

For leaders, this means moving from a nationally benchmarked system to one that values individuality and mission-driven education.

Aspect	ISI (F23 Framework)	Ofsted (2025 Framework)
Judgement Style	Narrative report, no single-word grades	Report cards with narrative + 5-point grading
Focus Areas	Compliance with Independent School Standards, safeguarding, educational quality, school aims	6 core areas incl. Curriculum & Teaching, leadership, inclusion, wellbeing
Reporting Format	Detailed narrative feedback	Report card with grades and short summaries
Compliance Basis	Independent School Standards (DfE statutory requirements)	Education Inspection Framework (EIF)
Approach to Curriculum & Teaching	Evaluates how well the school meets its own aims and provides quality education	Focus on ambition and coherence of curriculum; how teaching enables learning and progression; inclusion and accessibility; impact on pupils’ knowledge, skills, and personal development
Grading System	No grades; standards met or not met	Five-point scale: Exceptional, Strong Standard, Expected Standard, Attention Needed, Urgent Improvement

Independent Schools: A New Era of Leadership

The independent school sector in the UK is evolving rapidly. Structural changes such as federated groups and charitable trusts are reshaping governance and creating new leadership opportunities. Roles like Group CEO and Chief Operating Officer are emerging, requiring strategic oversight and adaptability beyond the traditional Head and Bursar model.

For schools welcoming leaders from the maintained or academy sector, this shift offers exciting possibilities. Transferable skills in governance, financial management, and operational leadership are highly valued—and essential for success in this new landscape.

At JMC Education, we not only help schools prepare for these changes through governance and compliance support, but we also offer specialist school leader recruitment services. Our recruitment team works closely with governing bodies to identify and appoint leaders who can thrive in this evolving environment—bringing strategic vision, operational expertise, and a deep understanding of sector-specific challenges.

What This Means for Your School

When a new leader joins from a different sector, the school must adapt its systems and culture to align with the relevant framework. This includes:

• Curriculum and Teaching Alignment – Ofsted focuses on ambition, coherence, inclusion, and pupil development. ISI asks how well the school delivers on its own aims.
• Governance and Compliance – Independent schools often have charitable governance and additional regulatory requirements for safeguarding, EYFS, and boarding.
• Evidence and Reporting – Ofsted uses graded judgements; ISI relies on narrative evidence.

How JMC Education Supports Schools

We work with schools to ensure they are inspection-ready and fully aligned with sector expectations when leadership changes occur:

• Inspection Readiness Audits for ISI or Ofsted
• Policy and Compliance Reviews to meet statutory standards
• Curriculum and Teaching Evaluations tailored to the school’s aims
• Governance Training for boards and senior leaders
• Whole-School CPD Programmes to embed sustainable practice

Our goal is to help schools—not just leaders—navigate these transitions confidently and effectively

Planning a leadership transition or preparing for inspection? Contact JMC Education today to explore how we can support your school in achieving excellence across any sector.

📧 Email us at enquiries@jmcinset.com