Inspection has changed since this book was published. The book came out in July 2023 and discusses inspection as it was then, under the Education Inspection Framework with single-word overall judgements. From November 2025 Ofsted inspects schools in England under its renewed framework and publishes report cards instead of single-word judgements. For the current arrangements, read Ofsted's school inspection toolkit and operating guide rather than relying on the book's description of the system.
"Rethinking School Inspection" by Tracey O'Brien questions how school inspection works and sets out ideas for how it could be better.
What the book does
The publisher describes the book as examining what a meaningful school accountability system could look like in England. It starts with the inspection model as it stood in 2023, its pressures and how it compares with other countries and sectors; then looks at how Ofsted and inspection are perceived, drawing on first-hand accounts, research, government publications and media coverage; and ends with the author's own proposals, including a call for wide-ranging consultation leading to evidence-informed reform.
O'Brien combines analysis and criticism of current inspection with her own proposals. She mixes academic theory with detailed, real-world examples, which keeps the book accessible.
Who it is for
Teachers and leaders will find new ways of looking at existing practice. Policymakers will find ideas for how inspection regimes could be redesigned. Parents can use it to understand a system that shapes their children's schooling.
Our view
O'Brien makes bold suggestions, and her evidence and arguments are likely to stay relevant to discussions of inspection policy.
About the book
- Author: Tracey O'Brien.
- Full title: Rethinking school inspection: Is there a better way?
- Publisher: John Catt (Hachette Learning). Paperback published 21 July 2023, 188 pages, ISBN 9781398387461; also available as an ebook (ISBN 9781036002183).
Source: publisher listings on Hachette UK and Hachette Learning, checked 13 October 2026.