Public asked for views on future of school inspections in Scotland

The way schools in Scotland are inspected could be set for major change, after His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education launched a national consultation on the system.

The consultation, entitled “School inspections are changing: Shape what’s next”, invites learners, parents, carers and educators to share views on how inspections can best drive improvement and build public confidence in the quality of education.

It was launched during a visit to St Charles’ Primary School and Language and Communication Resource in Glasgow.

HM Chief Inspector of Education Janie McManus said: “School inspections must do more than measure performance; they should shine a light on what really makes learners thrive.

“At their best, inspections amplify strengths, share effective practice, and support schools to improve. But we also have a duty to act when the system isn’t delivering what children and young people need.

“That’s why we want to gather a wide range of perspectives on the current inspection process. We want to hear directly from learners, parents, carers, and educators about how inspections should evolve, from how we carry out them out to how we share our findings.

“By contributing your views, you will help shape an inspection system that is responsive to the diverse needs and aspirations of learners and communities across Scotland.

“This is about trust, lived experience, and unwavering commitment. We want an inspection system that is fair, transparent, and firmly focused on making education better for every learner.”

Education secretary Jenny Gilruth joined the chief inspector during the visit, meeting staff and pupils to discuss the future of school inspections.

She said: “We all want to ensure that every child and young person has access to high-quality learning experiences in Scotland’s schools.

“High standards are fundamental to our education system and knowing what works well in our classrooms can, in turn, lead to improved performance.

“This important consultation on school inspection will help us to raise standards and drive improvement in our schools.”

The consultation will seek views on:

Who should be involved in inspections and the value they bring.
How often schools should be inspected, and whether all schools should be visited within a set timeframe.
Whether inspection grades should continue, and if the current six-point grading scale is right.
How inspection findings are reported, and whether they meet the needs of different audiences.
The two-and-a-half-week notification period, and whether it should change.
Pre-inspection activities, including self-evaluation and questionnaires.
The format, purpose and content of the inspection framework.
Whether nursery classes should continue to receive separate grades when inspected as part of a school.
Follow-up engagement with schools, and how inspectors should support improvement after a visit.

The consultation will also help shape how new duties under the Education (Scotland) Act 2025 are carried out.

It is open until November 26, with responses accepted online via School inspections are changing – Scottish Government consultations – Citizen Space.