Post-16 Provision Audit Pack (2025)

This audit pack gives you a full set of editable tools to help you evaluate and improve post-16 provision. Every document is designed to support strategic reflection, reduce workload and help you plan for next steps with clarity and confidence. The document is fully aligned with the 2025 Ofsted School Inspection Toolkit and best practice.

You'll get:

☑️ A 33-page editable Post-16 Provision Audit document
The core audit tool includes structured prompts and evaluation questions across seven key areas of post-16 provision. Each section supports detailed reflection on current strengths, areas for development and the evidence that underpins your judgements. The seven areas are:

1. Strategic Leadership of Post-16 Provision
2. Achievement in the Post-16 Provision
3. Curriculum and Teaching
4. Preparation for Next Steps
5. Wider Opportunities
6. Inclusive Practices in the Post-16 Provision
7. Evaluating Impact and Continuous Improvement

Work through the audit with colleagues at your own pace or use it to structure strategic conversations with SLT and trust leaders.

☑️ Post-16 action plan template
A simple, editable Word document to help you identify priorities, agree responsibilities and map out next steps across your post-16 provision.

☑️ Post-16 document checklist
A structured tool to help you gather and review the documents that best support your post-16 self-evaluation.

☑️ Post-16 question bank
Editable question prompts for use with students, staff, parents and governors. Ideal for triangulating evidence and informing development planning.

☑️ One-page summary template
A flexible Word template for sharing key post-16 findings and priorities with SLT, governors or trust boards.

☑️ Post-16 provision grade descriptor grid
Customisable version of the new toolkit requirements for your leadership team to reference and annotate.

☑️ PDF guidance: Auditing Your Post-16 Provision
A 19-page printable guide with practical advice on how to approach your post-16 audit, including planning, involving others and making the process meaningful.

All templates (excluding the PDF) are fully editable so you can adapt them for your school's specific context.

This audit pack is designed for anyone responsible for leading, evaluating or improving post-16 provision in a school or college setting. It's ideal for heads of sixth form, directors of sixth form, assistant or deputy heads, KS5 leads, and headteachers overseeing post-16 outcomes.

It's particularly valuable for those involved in curriculum planning, quality assurance and strategic leadership of the 16 to 19 study programme. Whether you're reviewing provision ahead of Ofsted, shaping improvement priorities, or evaluating the effectiveness of support and outcomes, this pack offers a structured, practical approach to self-evaluation.

Senior leaders, governors and trust executives can also use the pack to support line management conversations, sixth form reviews across multiple schools, and wider strategic work on post-16 curriculum and destinations. It's essential for providing a clear framework for evidencing strengths, identifying gaps and ensuring provision meets the needs of all students in line with the 2025 Ofsted School Inspection Toolkit.

This comprehensive pack helps you tackle the most common challenges leaders face when evaluating and improving their school's post-16 provision. Whether you're conducting a formal review in preparation for inspection, planning development priorities or strengthening your self-evaluation, this pack provides the support you need.

"How can I audit our sixth form provision effectively across all key areas?"
The 33-page audit framework guides you through systematic evaluation across seven comprehensive themes, with structured questions and evidence prompts aligned to the 2025 Ofsted School Inspection Toolkit to ensure thorough coverage.

"What should I be looking for when reviewing our post-16 curriculum and teaching quality?"
Detailed audit questions help you evaluate curriculum design, teaching effectiveness and achievement outcomes with clear evaluation criteria that reflect the latest Ofsted expectations for 16-19 study programmes.

"How do I know if our sixth form students are being prepared effectively for their next steps?"
Specific audit sections focus on careers guidance quality, progression planning and destination outcomes - helping you identify what's working and where adjustments are needed for post-18 pathways.

"What evidence demonstrates effective strategic leadership of post-16 provision?"
The audit framework helps you gather and evaluate evidence of leadership impact, from curriculum vision to quality assurance processes and whole-school post-16 culture development.

"How can I review our sixth form inclusion and support for vulnerable students?"
Dedicated audit questions address how well post-16 provision meets the needs of students with SEND, disadvantaged students and those requiring additional support to succeed in their studies.

"How can I involve different stakeholders in evaluating our post-16 work?"
Voice-gathering tools and question banks help you systematically collect feedback from students, staff, parents and employers to strengthen your evaluation and ensure comprehensive perspective-gathering.

"What's the best way to identify priorities for improving sixth form provision?"
The action planning template helps you synthesise audit findings into clear, manageable next steps with realistic timescales and accountability measures for post-16 improvement.

"How do I present audit findings to senior leaders and governors?"
The one-page summary template helps you communicate key strengths, areas for development and recommended actions clearly and concisely, supporting strategic decision-making around post-16 provision.

If you’re reviewing sixth form or post-16 provision, these related resources can help you strengthen teaching, explore pupil outcomes and support wider curriculum development.

Curriculum and Teaching Audit Pack
A whole-school audit tool focused on curriculum intent, implementation and impact – ideal for leaders reviewing provision across key stages.

Personal Development and Well-being Audit
Explores personal development and well-being in depth, including careers education, enrichment and pastoral support.

Achievement Audit Pack
Focuses on pupil progress, outcomes and assessment across groups and subjects. Useful for understanding attainment trends and closing gaps.

Have a look at what's in the pack here: Post-16 Provision Audit Pack