School inspections: FOI release

Information requested

1. The number of schools that have been inspected in the previous financial year (2022-2023)?
2. The number of schools that have not been inspected since the financial year 2012-2013?
3. The percentage of public schools that have been inspected since the 2012-2013 financial year?
4. The percentage of independent schools that have been inspected since the 2012-2013 financial year?

Response

Education Scotland’s annual programme of inspection operates on an academic year (AY) basis. All figures and calculations within this response are based on academic years, which run from 1 August to 31 July each year.

1. So far in AY 2022-23, there have been 122 school inspections. These are inspections that have taken place and the inspection report has been published on Education Scotland’s website. This includes special inspections under Section 66(1) of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980.

2. 1083 schools have not been inspected since AY 2012-13.

3. 57% of public schools have been inspected since AY 2012-13.

4. 54% of independent schools have been inspected since AY 2012-13.

Notes

1. The Scottish Government School Contact Details (January 2023) and the Register of Independent Schools in Scotland (May 2023) have been used to determine the number of schools currently open which would be eligible for inspection.

2. Public schools include local authority and grant-aided schools.

3. The number of schools not inspected since financial year (FY) 2012-13 is taken as the total number of local authority, grant-aided and independent schools currently open which have not been inspected since the beginning of the academic year (AY) 2012-13 (i.e. inspected prior to 1 August 2012 or are opened and have never been inspected).

4. The percentage of public schools inspected since FY 2012-13, is calculated based on those local authority and grant-aided schools listed as open in the current Scottish Schools Contact Details that have been inspected since AY 2012-13 (i.e. inspected from 1 August 2012 to 30 April 2023 (where an inspection report has been published).

5. The percentage of independent schools inspected since AY 2012-13, is calculated based on those independent schools listed in the Register of Independent schools that have been inspected since AY 2012-13 (i.e. inspected from 1 August 2012 to 30 April 2023). The percentage includes post-registration inspections and special inspections under Section 66(1) Education (Scotland) Act 1980.

6. The number of inspections include only the original inspection. It does not include further inspections which have taken place as a result of the outcome of an original inspection.

Please note that due to the COVID-19 pandemic the routine programme of early learning and childcare and school inspections did not take place during the period 13 March 2020 to August 2022.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.