School inspections are changing

Closes 26 Nov 2025

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Section 7: Reporting on the outcome of inspections

 

 

We are reviewing how inspection findings are reported and shared following school inspections. Currently, HM Inspectors publish:

  • a short letter for parents and carers, summarising strengths, areas for development, and inspection grades
  • a separate, detailed report for the school, setting out the full findings

  • collated results from the pre-inspection questionnaires

This section asks questions about whether this approach continues to meet the needs of different audiences, or whether it should change. We want to understand:

  • whether inspection findings should be presented differently for different audiences
  • how inspection findings can be made more accessible and useful to children and young people
  • how reporting can better support the purposes of inspection as set out in the Education (Scotland) Act 2025

Your views will help us decide whether to retain the current reporting model or introduce changes to improve clarity, accessibility, and impact.

7.1. How should inspection findings be presented to different audiences?

Please select the option which best reflects your view.

7.2. What do you think are effective ways of sharing inspection findings with children and young people?
7.3. What makes an inspection report useful to you?

Please select all that apply.

7.4. From the list below, which three features of inspection reporting do you think matter most?