ABSTRACT
The Education (Schools) Act 1992 introduced a regime of systematic inspections of all state schools in England and Wales on a four-year (later extended to sixyear) cycle. Prior to this, school inspections were relatively infrequent-Her Majesty’s Inspectorate undertook between 100 and 150 each year and the amount of inspection undertaken by local education authorities was variable. Under the new arrangements inspections were to be managed by the Office for Standards in Education (OFSTED) according to a published Framework. Inspectors were required to undergo training, to pass a registration assessment and were contracted to carry out inspections after having a tender accepted by OFSTED. The inspection of schools by privatised teams commenced in the secondary sector in England and Wales in September 1993 and was introduced a year later into primary and special schools. All schools in England and Wales had been inspected by the summer of 1998.
