What Should School Leaders Be Doing Six Months Before an ISI Inspection?

Six months before an ISI inspection isn't the time to start preparing from scratch. It's the time to take stock, reflect on your school's journey and gain confidence that the everyday experiences of children and young people reflect the values and standards you've worked so hard to build.

For many school leaders, six months can feel both reassuring and daunting.

There may not be an inspection date on the horizon, but there's often a growing awareness that one could come at any time.

It's natural to wonder:

"Have we done enough?"

"Is there anything we've missed?"

"Would an inspector see our school in the same way that we do?"

These are questions many leaders ask themselves.

The good news is that if you've been committed to continuous improvement throughout the year, the next six months aren't about starting a new process, they're about strengthening your confidence in the one you already have.

Start by Reflecting on Your School's Strengths

School leaders often spend so much time solving problems that they overlook how much has already been achieved.

Before focusing on what still needs to improve, take time to recognise the strengths within your school.

Ask yourself:

• What are we particularly proud of?
• What would children and young people say makes our school special?
• Where have we made the greatest progress this year?
• What evidence demonstrates the impact of our work?

Recognising strengths isn't complacency. It's an important part of understanding your school's story and ensuring those strengths are consistently reflected in everyday practice.

Review Your Self-Evaluation Honestly

Strong self-evaluation is one of the most valuable tools a school has.

Six months before inspection is an ideal opportunity to ask:

• Does our self-evaluation accurately reflect the school today?
• Is it supported by evidence?
• Would staff recognise this description of our school?
• Would governors agree with these priorities?

The aim isn't to produce a perfect document.

It's to ensure your understanding of the school is honest, balanced and focused on improving outcomes for children and young people.

Take a Fresh Look at Safeguarding

Safeguarding should never feel like an area that's reviewed only because inspection may be approaching.

Instead, use this time to step back and consider whether your safeguarding culture reflects the experience you want every child to have.

Think beyond policies.

Ask questions such as:

• Do children feel safe and listened to?
• Are staff confident in their responsibilities?
• Are safeguarding records clear and consistent?
• Does governance provide meaningful oversight?
• Is our culture as strong as our documentation?

When safeguarding is embedded in everyday practice, confidence follows naturally.

Give Governors the Opportunity to Seek Assurance

Governors don't need to know everything.

They do need confidence that the information they're receiving reflects the reality of school life.

An independent perspective can help governing bodies understand:

• how effectively priorities are being implemented
• whether self-evaluation is accurate
• where additional assurance may be helpful
• how strategic decisions are improving outcomes for pupils.

The best governance conversations are rarely about inspection.

They're about ensuring every decision supports children and young people to thrive.

Talk to Your Staff

Inspection is never about one individual. It's about the culture created across the whole school.

Spend time talking with colleagues.

Celebrate what's gone well.

Listen to concerns.

Encourage professional reflection.

When staff understand the school's vision and feel confident talking about their work, that confidence is visible throughout the school community.

Consider an Independent Review

One of the most valuable things a school can do six months before an ISI inspection is invite someone with experience to provide an objective perspective.

An independent review isn't designed to catch schools out.

It's an opportunity to:

• validate your self-evaluation
• celebrate strengths
• identify practical opportunities for improvement
• provide reassurance for leaders and governors
• build confidence through independent assurance.

Many leaders tell us that the greatest value isn't the report itself.

It's the confidence they gain from knowing where they stand and what should be prioritised next.

Keep Children and Young People at the Centre

As inspection approaches, it's easy to become focused on policies, evidence and documentation.

While these are important, they should never distract from the reason they exist.

Every policy.

Every leadership decision.

Every safeguarding discussion.

Every improvement plan.

Ultimately exists to create a school where children and young people feel safe, supported, challenged and inspired to achieve their potential.

When leaders keep that purpose at the centre of their decision-making, inspection naturally becomes a reflection of a school's values rather than simply its paperwork.

Six Months Is an Opportunity, Not a Deadline

The strongest schools don't spend the final six months trying to become inspection ready.

They spend it building confidence.

Confidence in their leadership.

Confidence in their staff.

Confidence in their governance.

Confidence that the experiences of children and young people reflect the values they believe in every day.

Inspection then becomes an opportunity to demonstrate the culture that already exists, not a race to create one.

How Jarvis Education Can Help

At Jarvis Education, we understand that preparing for an ISI inspection isn't simply about compliance. It's about having confidence that your school's everyday practice reflects the values, care and commitment that define your community.

Our independent reviews provide supportive, objective assurance that helps leaders, governors and proprietors recognise strengths, strengthen practice and make informed decisions with confidence.

Together, we can help ensure that when inspection comes, you're not relying on last-minute preparation, you're demonstrating the culture you've been building all along, for the benefit of every child and young person in your care.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should schools focus on six months before an ISI inspection?

Rather than starting from scratch, schools should review their self-evaluation, strengthen safeguarding, engage governors, celebrate strengths and seek independent assurance where appropriate.

Is six months enough time to prepare for an ISI inspection?

Yes, provided preparation is viewed as strengthening existing practice rather than creating new systems. Schools with a culture of continuous improvement are often well placed to approach inspection with confidence.

Should schools commission an independent review before an ISI inspection?

Many schools choose to do so because it provides an objective perspective, validates self-evaluation and offers practical recommendations that help leaders and governors feel more confident.

How can school leaders reduce stress before an inspection?

By focusing on the quality of everyday practice, seeking independent assurance and remembering that inspection should reflect the school's normal way of working, not a temporary version created for inspectors.