School Self-Evaluation Form (SEF) Template

🔒 Fully aligned with the Ofsted 2025 School Inspection Toolkit

This ready-to-use SEF template takes the complexity out of school self-evaluation, providing clear frameworks and prompts that reflect how inspectors actually assess schools against the 2025 Ofsted Inspection Framework. Designed specifically for headteachers, deputy heads, and senior leadership teams who need efficient, evidence-based evaluation tools.

What you get in the pack

Two comprehensive documents that work together:

☑️ Self-Evaluation Form Template Complete editable evaluation framework with detailed prompts for all evaluation areas, evidence source suggestions for each section, and structured format ensuring comprehensive coverage. Fully editable to save hours of formatting time covering the following areas:

• Safeguarding - comprehensive prompts covering culture, policies, training, and multi-agency working
• Inclusion - SEND provision, disadvantaged pupils, pupil premium strategy, and accessibility
• Curriculum and Teaching - curriculum design, sequencing, assessment, and professional development
• Achievement - progress tracking, foundational knowledge, and outcomes analysis
• Attendance and Behaviour - culture, expectations, intervention strategies, and data analysis
• Personal Development and Well-being - PSHE, careers education, character development, and life preparation
• Leadership and Governance - strategic planning, performance management, and stakeholder engagement
• Early Years - EYFS curriculum, assessment, and transition planning (where applicable)
• Post-16 Provision - study programmes, careers guidance, and progression outcomes (where applicable)

☑️ Ofsted Grade Descriptor Grids Current grade descriptors aligned to the latest inspection toolkit, helping you accurately assess performance against the standards inspectors actually use.

• Quality of Education
• Behaviour and Attitudes
• Personal Development
• Leadership and Management
• Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) (if applicable to your setting)
• Sixth-Form Provision (if applicable to your setting)

Perfect for headteachers planning and reviewing their SIP, senior leaders conducting annual reviews, or governing bodies seeking structured evaluation processes. It's particularly valuable for new headteachers or leadership teams wanting to ensure comprehensive coverage of all inspection areas or those wishing to refine their SEF writing process.

👉 For those seeking deeper guidance on how to write a SEF, our School Evaluation and Improvement Pack is also available - it contains this editable SEF template too, plus templates for writing a school improvement plan, full PDF guidance and further supportive resources. If you're thinking about your SEF as part of Ofsted preparation, it's available in the full Ofsted Inspection Preparation Pack too.