ABSTRACT
This chapter is concerned with the impact the inspection process had on schools and their development. It investigates the effects of Office for Standards in Education inspections on those schools–the vast majority–which are not deemed to be in need of 'special measures' or 'failing to provide pupils with an appropriate standard of education'. The final evidence base that will be drawn upon in order to explore further the key issue of school improvement through external inspection is that of the the British Educational Management and Administration Society (BEMAS) research conducted by the editors. H. Gray and B. Wilcox have completed a follow-up study of a small number of schools, whilst the Oxford Brookes University study has investigated teachers' perceptions of inspection and its potential for improvement in professional practice. The chapter concludes by raising a number of issues that require further research, including the need for some kind of 'cost-benefit' analysis of the whole inspection process.
