​​​​​How frequently an organisation is inspected depends on the sector. The Chief Inspector agrees the scale and priorities of our inspection and review programme with the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills. The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills may also commission Education Scotland to carry out specific inspection and review activity. We may also carry out inspection and review activity in response to an analysis of risk.

Early Learning and Childcare​​ (ELC)

We currently inspect early learning and childcare settings on a proportionate basis, using a sampling approach, rather than a cyclical model. We also liaise with the Care Inspectorate to determine which settings to inspect, and have increased the period between inspections to 18 months. This means that if you have been inspected by the Care Inspectorate, you will not receive an inspection from Education Scotland within 18 months. The same timescale applies if you have been inspected by Education Scotland. Inspections may be carried out during this period in response to risk.

We are currently working with the Care Inspectorate to develop a shared inspection framework for Early Learning and Childcare following the Scottish Government response to the consultation on inspection of early learning and childcare and school age childcare services in Scotland published in March 2023.

Schools, including Gaelic Medium and Learner Education

Schools are inspected on a proportionate basis, using a sampling approach, rather than a cyclical model. We use a set of criteria to select schools to inspect. We use predetermined criteria to select an annual sample of 120 schools to enable us to provide evidence for the National Improvement Framework (NIF).

The criteria considers the context and characteristics of schools, including the type of school, deprivation, and balance across local authorities. We select other schools for inspection on an annual basis taking account of the context and characteristics of schools, including the type of school and balance across local authorities. We also consider other factors, including local circumstances. When selecting schools for inspection we are placing an increased emphasis on the length of time since the last inspection.

Independent schools

A selection of schools is identified for inspection on a proportionate basis considering a range of factors, including the length of time since they were last inspected; any significant changes in provision; and other intelligence, including information from other agencies.

Independent special schools are inspected on a more frequent basis than independent mainstream schools. This is due to the vulnerability of children and young people attending independent special schools, most of whom have significant additional support needs.

Special inspections

Section 66(1) of the 1980 Act, also allows Scottish Ministers to cause what is termed as a “special” inspection of any school whenever such an inspection is deemed to be “desirable”. Special inspections arise mainly as a result of specific concerns about a school’s practices. As such, they are focused on the areas of concern. A “special” inspection will normally take the form of an unannounced or short notice inspection.

Unannounced and short notice inspections

HM Inspectors can carry out unannounced or short notice inspections in response to identified risks.

Unannounced inspections

Unannounced inspections may take place if it is felt that there is a significant level of risk.

Short notice inspections

The school is usually given a few days’ notice that an inspection will take place.

Colleges

We undertake quality assurance and quality improvement activities in colleges on behalf of the Scottish Funding Council. The cycle of external reviews of colleges was completed in 2016. Currently, all 26 colleges and one specialist institution across 13 regions are evaluated annually.

Community learning and development

Education Scotland HM Inspectors of Education (HMIE) evaluate and report on, the quality of Community Learning and Development (CLD) provision within local authorities, in line with the Community Learning and Development (Scotland) Regulations 2013 and associated guidance for local authorities. HM Inspectors completed a programme of inspections between 2016 and 2019.

A summary on Improving life chances and empowering communities was published in January 2020. All further inspections arising from this programme were completed by Spring 2023. HM Inspectors have developed interim arrangements for implementation from academic year 2023 to 2024, to support improvement and provide external assurance of the quality of CLD provision in Scotland.

Modern Apprentice training

We undertake these external reviews of Modern Apprenticeship providers on behalf of Scottish Ministers. Education Scotland  select the sample for review and liaise with Skills Development Scotland regarding data and review planning.

Education functions of local authorities

Currently, we inspect the education functions of local authorities in response to the level of risk. This is determined through the Shared Risk Assessment process, which is coordinated by Audit Scotland.

Educational psychology services

At the end of 2010, HM Inspectors completed the full cycle of 32 Educational Psychology Service (EPS) inspections. During the period 2015 to 2017, HM Inspectors carried out scrutiny of all EPS using a validated self-evaluation (VSE) inspection methodology.

Since then, EPS have been included within the Shared Risk Assessment (SRA) process. As with all other aspects of SRA, if risks are identified in this area, an appropriate scrutiny response would be planned jointly with the Local Area Network and other scrutiny bodies.

Prison education

We inspect prison education with and on behalf of HM Inspectorate of Prisons which identifies the centres to be inspected.​