In conducting inspections, each diocese is exercising a pastoral function on behalf of their Bishop. Inspection is one of the ways a Bishop acts as a shepherd of his schools, protecting, supporting and encouraging them. For this reason, dioceses also have a canonical and legal responsibility to ensure that the inspection of their schools witnesses to Catholic values and are compatible with both the teachings of the Church and the law of the land. Dioceses will exercise this responsibility by appointing accredited inspectors who are able to carry out this pastoral and legal function effectively.
In November 2019, the Bishops’ Conference unanimously agreed to a National Framework for the Inspection of Catholic Schools, Colleges and Academies. This provided, inter alia, for all inspectors to be accredited, on behalf of every diocesan bishop, in accordance with a nationally agreed protocol approved by the Department of Education and Formation, to inspect in any diocese.
From September 2022, all s48 inspections of Catholic schools in England and Wales have been carried out by the Catholic Schools Inspectorate (CSI). The most up to date framework for inspection and for a school’s ongoing self-review, together with other supportive materials for schools, can be viewed by visiting the Catholic Schools Inspectorate website. this can be found by clicking on the link below.
Below is a compilation of documents, either used in the the Inspection, useful guides or produced by the Diocese as a tool for self-evaluation.
