The Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) is the body approved by the Secretary of State for the purpose of inspecting schools which are, or whose heads are, in membership of the associations which form the Independent Schools Council (ISC).
Unlike Ofsted, the national inspectorate, the ISI does not provide a single overarching judgement, but instead gives clear judgements on regulatory compliance (whether the Independent Schools’ Standards and Regulations are met), with information on the quality of the Schools' work.
A new framework has been in place since September 2023, focusing on five areas: school leadership, education, wellbeing, PSHE and economic education, and social contribution, with a section on safeguarding.