Ofsted Leadership and Governance 2025: What School Leaders Must Know

As the new Ofsted inspection framework launches on 10th November 2025, leadership and governance face transformed evaluation. Previously called 'Leadership and Management', this area has been refined area reflects clearer distinction between leadership actions and governance oversight.

According to Sir Martyn Oliver, Ofsted's Chief Inspector: "Leadership and inclusion are the bookends of what we do" – highlighting how critical this evaluation area is to your inspection outcome.

What's Changed in the 2025 Framework?

• Renamed to 'Leadership and Governance' – clearer focus on distinct roles
• New 5-point grading system (Exceptional to Urgent Improvement)
• No overall effectiveness grade – detailed report cards replace single judgements
• Enhanced focus on staff wellbeing – now explicitly evaluated
• Greater emphasis on context – recognition of unique school circumstances
• All changes effective from 10th November 2025

Why This Evaluation Area Matters

Leadership and Governance is often a critical area because:

• It influences every other area, weak leadership undermines everything else
• It determines your school's trajectory as effective leadership drives continuous improvement
• It can trigger intervention if graded 'Urgent Improvement', your school may be placed in a category of concern requiring significant improvement
• Leadership and inclusion are the bookends and they frame everything else that happens in your school

What Will Ofsted Evaluate?

1. Strategic Leadership and School Improvement
2. Managing the School Effectively
3. Professional Learning and Development
4. Governance
5. Staff Wellbeing (NEW Explicit Focus)
6. Stakeholder Engagement

Meeting the 'Expected Standard'

Leadership and Governance meets the expected standard when all the following apply:

✅ Leaders and governors have accurate understanding of strengths and areas for development
✅ Leaders prioritise the right actions to tackle significant barriers to learning
✅ The school is managed effectively with strategic staff deployment
✅ There's a coherent professional learning programme developing teaching quality
✅ Governance provides effective strategic oversight and challenge
✅ Leaders support staff wellbeing and create sustainable working conditions
✅ The school meets all statutory duties
✅ Leaders work effectively with parents and the wider community

Key Preparation Steps

1. Conduct a Leadership and Governance Audit

Self-reflection questions:

• Do we accurately understand our strengths and weaknesses?
• Are we prioritising the right improvement actions?
• How do we know our actions are having impact?
• Is our professional learning improving teaching quality?
• How effective is our governance?
• Are we supporting staff wellbeing adequately?

2. Strengthen Your Self-Evaluation

Ensure it's:

• Accurate and honest – based on evidence, recognising strengths and weaknesses
• Strategic and focused – prioritising 3-5 key actions with most impact
• Shared and understood – all leaders, governors and staff know the priorities

3. Refine Your School Improvement Plan

Make sure it:

• Focuses on 3-5 priorities maximum addressing significant barriers
• Is evidence-based with clear rationale for chosen approaches
• Is realistic and sustainable – considering staff capacity and wellbeing
• Shows impact – with clear success criteria and monitoring

4. Develop Your Governance

Support governors to:

• Understand their strategic role vs operational management
• Access varied information – not just leaders' reports
• Provide effective challenge – probing questions about impact
• Undertake appropriate training to fulfil their responsibilities

5. Prioritise Staff Wellbeing

Take concrete action:

• Survey staff about workload and wellbeing
• Reduce unnecessary tasks – audit and remove work that doesn't add value
• Create positive culture – recognise contributions and address morale issues
• Provide support – systems to help staff facing difficulties

6. Ensure Professional Learning Has Impact

Check your CPD:

• Links to school priorities and focuses on teaching quality
• Is evidence-informed – based on research and best practice
• Builds collective expertise through collaboration
• Is evaluated – showing improved teaching and pupil outcomes

7. Gather Your Evidence

Organise documentation showing:

• School self-evaluation and improvement planning with impact evidence
• Governance meeting minutes demonstrating challenge and oversight
• Professional development plans and impact on teaching
• Staff wellbeing surveys and actions taken
• Communication with parents and stakeholder feedback