The Leadership and Governance Audit for Schools (2026/27) is an editable audit for the leadership and governance evaluation area of Ofsted's school inspection toolkit, for inspections from September 2026. It helps leaders and governors judge how well leadership decisions help every pupil achieve, belong and thrive, and turn that into actions for the school improvement plan.
2026/27 edition. Updated from our 2025 version to the current toolkit, using the expected standard as the baseline for evaluation.
What's inside
- Instructions for completing the audit with a Green, Amber or Red rating for each question
- Who to involve: SLT, the SENCO, the designated teacher for looked-after children, middle leaders, governors or trustees, and staff
- Audit questions across leadership, inclusion and safeguarding, with evidence and action columns
- Suggested evidence, from attendance, behaviour and exclusion data to learning walks
- Guidance on keeping the audit a continuous cycle
Who it's for
Headteachers, senior leaders, SENCOs and governors or trustees.
Editable Word document, 13 pages. Adapt it to your own school and check your judgements against the current toolkit on GOV.UK.
Also included in the Ofsted Audit Tools Pack, with audits for every evaluation area.
Part of the HeadteacherChat community library. Members get this resource, the full topic pack it belongs to and every update when guidance changes, alongside live sessions and more than 1,400 fellow school leaders. Join the community.
