How to Write an Independent School Action Plan the DfE Will Accept

Writing an action plan straight after a difficult inspection is hard. Leaders are tired, staff are anxious and the proprietor wants to know it will be put right. It's understandable that many plans are written quickly, with good intentions and too little detail.

The good news is that the tests a plan must pass are published. This guide explains how the process works and how to write a plan that gives the DfE confidence.

When do you need an action plan?

If a school is judged not to meet any of the independent school standards on any type of inspection, the Department for Education (DfE) will normally write to the proprietor. The letter, or a statutory notice, lists each unmet requirement and asks for a plan setting out how the school will put them right.

The DfE publishes guidance and a suggested template for producing action plans. It is worth using.

Why the action plan matters

The plan is more than a form. It becomes the document inspectors use at your progress monitoring inspection, where they check how effectively each action is being carried out and whether it is on time. A strong plan gives you a clear route back to meeting the standards and a way of showing progress.

How does Ofsted evaluate an action plan?

The DfE may ask Ofsted to evaluate your plan. Ofsted's operating guide for additional inspections sets out two groups of tests.

Completeness. Does the plan include every unmet standard, with clear reference to the specific paragraphs? Does it include actions for each one that address the evidence from the inspection? Does every action have a completion date and measurable success criteria?

Quality. How clearly defined and robust is each action? Will it actually address the evidence that led to the judgement? Are the dates realistic? Are the success criteria relevant and measurable? Where the plan says an action is complete, is the evidence good enough?

Ofsted then advises the DfE whether the plan is acceptable, acceptable with modifications or not acceptable. It normally sends its report within 4 weeks of being asked.

How to write a strong plan

Start with the evidence, not the standard

Inspectors judged each standard on specific evidence. Your action needs to address that evidence. If the report says staff did not follow the behaviour policy consistently, rewriting the policy will not be enough on its own. The action needs to change practice.

Give every action an owner and a date

Name a person, not a team. Choose dates you can meet. A plan that promises everything in a fortnight is unlikely to be judged realistic.

Make success measurable

"Staff are trained" is not a success criterion. "All staff have completed safeguarding training, and spot checks in March show they can explain the reporting procedure" is.

Show what is already done, with evidence

If you have already put something right, say so and provide the evidence. Ofsted looks at the quality of evidence for any action the plan says is complete.

Keep it a working document

You can update the plan as you go. Inspectors take updated versions into account at a progress monitoring inspection, so keep it accurate.

What happens after the evaluation?

For a statutory plan, the DfE may approve it, approve it with modifications or reject it. For a non-statutory plan, the DfE may accept it and return the school to the normal inspection cycle, accept it and request a progress monitoring inspection, or reject it and ask for a revised plan.

Ofsted does not normally publish its evaluation, although the DfE may share it with the school.

From Our Experience

We often see plans that describe activity rather than impact: meetings held, policies rewritten, training booked. Inspectors want to know what has changed for pupils as a result. Schools that recover well usually add one simple question to every action: how will we know?

A common misconception

"The action plan is a one-off submission." It is the document your next inspection will be measured against. Treat it as the school's improvement plan for the standards, and keep it up to date.

Questions for leaders and proprietors

• Does our plan cover every unmet paragraph named in the DfE's letter?
• Does each action address the evidence in the report, not just the standard?
• Is every date realistic, and does every action have a named owner?
• Would someone outside the school know, from our success criteria, when each action has worked?
• How often will the proprietor review progress?

Frequently asked questions

Is there a template?

Yes. The DfE publishes guidance and a suggested template for independent school action plans.

Can we change the plan after we submit it?

Yes. Inspectors take account of updated plans at a progress monitoring inspection, even if the DfE has not rejected the original.

Will we see Ofsted's evaluation?

Ofsted does not publish the evaluation report, but the DfE may send it to the school at its discretion.

What if the DfE rejects our plan?

The DfE may ask for a revised plan, and for a non-statutory plan it may serve a statutory notice. Seek advice early so the revised plan addresses what was missing.

Our Perspective

A good action plan is an improvement plan with a deadline. Written well, it gives leaders clarity, staff confidence and the proprietor a clear way to check progress, all of which matter far beyond the next inspection.

How Can Jarvis Education Help?

Our standards not met support helps schools write action plans built around the tests Ofsted uses. We work through the report with you, shape actions that address the evidence and help you gather the proof of impact inspectors will look for when they return.