About ISI
The Independent Schools Inspectorate, know an ISI, is an independent inspectorate appointed by the Department for Education to inspect independent schools in England. Their inspection reports inform the DfE on the extent to which the statutory Independent School Standards are met.
Key documentation such as the framework, inspection handbook and other documents and advice can be found here.
Schools that do not meet all inspection standards are encouraged to contact us early for advice and guidance. We will receive a copy of your report, but not until some time after the inspection has taken place, therefore we urge you to get in touch as early as possible to allow us to assist you.
Guidance and inspection materials
These documents should be read by all key staff, especially those responsible for recruitment and the Single Central Register:
- The DfE provides non‑statutory guidance explaining each ISSR part (1–8) and what compliance looks like.
- The Independent School Standards: ISI
- The ISI Inspection Handbook and ISI Framework outline how inspections are conducted, what inspectors expect, and how compliance is judged.
Schools may contact ISI directly regarding regulatory queries.