How the Quality Marks work
Independent accreditation that recognises and strengthens what your setting does well. The same clear, supportive process underpins every quality mark, from registration to report. Here is exactly how it works.
Recognition that means something
Our School Quality Marks are independent accreditations that recognise and strengthen the excellent work happening in schools. Each quality mark is awarded at three levels — Established, Advanced and Leading — against a clear, supportive framework. This page explains what the awards are, how the process works, and what is involved at each stage.
What are the quality marks?
Each quality mark is a structured, evidence-based accreditation that helps a school evaluate its practice, celebrate its strengths and identify next steps. The process is supportive rather than judgemental, and results in formal, independent recognition that can be shared with families, governors and the wider community.
Why it works
What makes a Jarvis Quality Mark different
Independently reviewed
No self-certification. Every award is validated by an experienced reviewer who has led, inspected or supported schools and settings.
Supportive, not punitive
The process is built to recognise strengths and identify next steps — a genuine professional conversation, not an inspection.
Clear, structured framework
Six areas, thirty-six standards, each rated red, amber or green. You always know what is being looked at and why.
Credible at every level
Established, Advanced and Leading reflect genuinely different standards of embedded practice — not just more paperwork.
A report worth sharing
Quality-checked before it reaches you, covering every area with specific recommendations — ready for your governors.
Built to drive improvement
Annual check-ins keep your award current and the recommendations live, so accreditation leads to real change.
The process
From registration to report, step by step
Every quality mark follows the same six-step process. Here is what happens at each stage, and what is expected of you.
-
1
Register and choose your mark and level
Complete the registration form and tell us which quality mark you want and which level you are aiming for. We get back to you with your named reviewer and the next steps.
Not sure which level fits? We start with a short call. Established suits settings earlier in this work; Advanced and Leading suit settings that have been at it a while and can show what has changed.
-
2
Complete your self-evaluation
We send the framework tool for your chosen mark — a structured document that walks you through all six areas, section by section. You rate how your setting is doing and point to the evidence.
Most leaders spend eight to twelve hours on this over a few weeks. You are not creating anything new, just drawing together what already exists and being honest about what it shows. Your reviewer will quickly spot scores that are too generous — honest self-evaluation is itself the sign of a school that knows what it is doing.
-
3
Send your evidence before the visit
Your reviewer reads everything before they arrive, at least two weeks ahead. They are not starting from scratch — they already know your setting, so the visit becomes a genuine conversation rather than an information-gathering exercise.
-
4
Your reviewer visits for the day
They look at lessons, sit with a group of pupils, speak to staff and families, and work through your documents. It is a structured day but not a rigid one, and they adapt to your timetable. At the end they share what they found and a provisional view on the level.
At Leading level, two reviewers attend the visit day.
-
5
Your report arrives
Within around ten working days, and quality-checked by a senior member of the team before it reaches you. It covers every area of the framework — what was strong, what needs attention, and specific recommendations — the kind of thing worth putting in front of your governors.
-
6
Annual check-ins keep your award current
Your award lasts three years. In years two and three you send us some documents and we check you are keeping things up — no visit required. Renew at any level when you are ready.
How scoring works
A simple red, amber, green rating
Every standard is rated red, amber or green against the level descriptors. Your setting completes an honest self-evaluation; your reviewer rates the same standards on the visit, and their ratings set the award.
Green
Meets the descriptor at this level — secure, consistent and evidenced across the setting.
Amber
Developing — in place in parts, but not yet secure across the whole school.
Red
Not yet in place, or a significant gap to address.
No reds, and at least 30 of the 36 standards green. Up to six ambers are allowed, with no more than two in any one area.
Established is met first, then at least 27 of 36 standards green against the Advanced descriptors, with no more than two ambers in any area.
Advanced is met first, then at least 30 of 36 green against the Leading descriptors, with evidence of impact beyond your own setting.
Safeguarding is judged the way Ofsted judges it — met or not met — so every standard must be green, with no tolerance for ambers.
Show what you have achieved
Your digital accreditation badge
Every setting that achieves a quality mark receives a digital badge in the colour of the mark, showing your level and your name. It is yours to display — proof of the work you have done, recognised independently.
Examples shown. Your badge carries your own name and the mark and level you are awarded.
On your website
Add it to your homepage, your about page, or a dedicated accreditation page — and link it back to us so visitors can see what the mark stands for.
In email signatures
Include it in staff email signatures so every message that leaves your setting carries the recognition. We provide a sized version made for signatures.
On paperwork & documents
Use it on prospectuses, newsletters, policies, headed paper and reports to parents — anywhere you want the accreditation to be seen.
Badges are supplied as high-resolution PNG and scalable SVG files, so they stay sharp at any size — from a small email signature to a printed banner.
On the day
What the visit day looks like
A typical visit day runs from morning to mid-afternoon. It is structured, but your reviewer adapts to your timetable.
- 8.45Reviewer arrives and gets set up
- 9.00Meeting with the head or lead and the relevant subject lead — overview of the setting and your self-evaluation
- 9.30Lesson visits — at least three classrooms across different year groups
- 10.30Document review — policies, plans, data and training records
- 11.00Pupil group — six to ten children whose experience is most relevant to the mark
- 11.45Staff conversations — teachers, support staff and pastoral leads
- 12.30Lunch and further document review
- 1.00Governor or trustee meeting (Leading) or senior leader conversation (Established and Advanced)
- 1.30Parent or family conversations — at least three families, in person or by phone
- 2.00Reviewer write-up and cross-checking of the self-evaluation
- 3.00Feedback to leadership — what was found and a provisional level
What it costs
Clear pricing, no surprises
The same pricing applies across all ten quality marks: one fee for the review, and an annual fee in years two and three to keep the award current. Figures shown are a guide — confirm current fees with us.
- Self-evaluation tool for all six areas
- One named reviewer
- Full-day independent visit
- Written report and award mark
- Annual document check in years 2 & 3
- Everything in Established, plus:
- Governor or trustee conversation
- Commendations in the report
- Directory listing
- Everything in Advanced, plus:
- Two reviewers on the visit day
- Annual impact summary in years 2 & 3
For trusts and groups
Running a trust or group of schools?
Multi-academy trusts, independent school groups and groups of alternative provision settings all qualify for our group programme: the same criteria across every school, one agreed schedule, and an overview report for your board.
- Individual reviews for each school at their chosen mark and level
- An overview report for governors and the CEO or head of group
- A group-wide training session based on the findings
Group discounts
Overview report and training session included.
The quality marks
One process, ten quality marks
The same six-area framework and supportive process underpins every mark. Choose the area that matters most to your school — or hold several.
Ready to register?
Tell us which quality mark you want and we will be in touch to talk through the next steps for your school, setting, trust or group.