The new inspection regime begins when schools return in September. Schools will be inspected every three years, rather than every six years. Inspections will be for shorter periods, and the period of notice will be reduced to a couple of days. Reports will be published about a month after the inspection, allowing judgements to have a more immediate impact on school planning and development.

The relevant section for the inspection of denominational education and the content of education has changed from section 23 to section 48 (s48), but the responsibilities remain the same. Over the past eighteen months, the CES – with other faith school providers – has been in negotiations with the DfES and OfSTED about the new arrangements. There are three main issues facing the Catholic community about the implementation of s48 inspections: capacity, training and quality assurance.

Capacity
Throughout the process the CES has worked closely with inspection coordinators from the twenty-two dioceses of England and Wales. Colleagues from Wales have shared in these discussions due to cross-border interest and changes ESTYN (the Welsh inspection agency) may make in light of the English experience. The proposed s48 framework is founded on less classroom observation of religious education and this observation is led by the school’s own analysis of its strengths and areas for development. The larger dioceses will be inspecting over 2 schools per week.

Training
Dioceses have agreed a common framework for s48 inspections, although there may be some local determination. Dioceses, individually and collectively, have embarked on a programme of extensive training for existent and new inspectors. Although the scope of the inspection has not been changed, the methodology has been and it now involves a clearer evaluation of the quality of leadership. There will continue to be some appraisal of provision and pupils’ response to this provision in order to test individual school’s own assessment contained in their self-evaluation form and supporting data/material.

While inspections and notification will be shorter in line with other parts of the inspection process, it will be sustainability that will exercise dioceses most. Protocols are currently being agreed with OfSTED over early notification for dioceses, and individual dioceses will have to retain a group of inspectors to carry out the inspections.

Quality Assurance
The intensity of the number of inspections will require secure turnaround procedures in diocesan offices and the need for fast quality assurance procedures of inspections and reports. In time it is hoped that the outcome of these reports will feed into subject reviews of Religious Education. Negotiations are ongoing to allow for collaboration while protecting our statutory rights.

Conclusion
Substantial progress has been made, and meetings between representatives of the various faith groups, and DfES and OfSTED officials will take place in the autumn term to closely monitor initial implementation of the inspections, and to consider ways of improving them.

The CES is grateful for the work of Fr. Des Seddon (Chair of section 23 Inspection Coordinators Working Group) and Dr. John Lally who have been instrumental in chairing the working group and writing the revised framework respectively.

For more information on this briefing, please contact Fr. Joseph Quigley (jquigley@cesew.org.uk) or Peter Walsh (pwalsh@cesew.org.uk, 0207 901 4854).