FAQs about transition to ISI

The Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) is appointed by the DfE to inspect independent schools in England. ISI inspects most independent schools, including our peer schools such as Eton, Harrow, Sevenoaks, St. Paul’s, TASIS, Southbank International, and all the ACS schools.

They are two distinct inspectorates specializing in two different types of schools. Ofsted inspects all state schools, special educational needs (SEN) schools, and a percentage of independent schools at the direction of the DfE. ISI is appointed by the DfE to inspect independent schools in England and inspects the majority of independent schools, including our peer schools such as Eton, Harrow, Sevenoaks, St. Paul’s, TASIS, Southbank International, and all the ACS schools.

Inspections are not just about the rating. The best kind of inspections are genuinely helpful to the schools hosting them. Inspectors are professional peers working in similar schools that face the same challenges and opportunities as the schools they are visiting. Their reports are detailed, knowledge-based deep dives into all aspects of a school from business management to safeguarding to teaching and learning to grounds and facilities. 

The ISI is staffed by independent school professionals who work in schools that are similar to ASL. Their reports are detailed and demonstrate a thorough understanding of the visited school as an independent entity. 
 

No. By law, schools in England must meet the DfE independent school standards and must be inspected by either one of the two inspectorates: Ofsted or ISI. We met all expectations during our progress monitoring visit from Ofsted in October 2022 and are free to chose the best fit inspectorate for our school. Read the letter from Ofsted, received in October 2022. 

We could have moved to ISI at any point since ISI’s founding in 1999, but the School did not consider the change until recently.

We will retain all those improvements that enabled us to meet the independent school standards. ISI will inspect us against those same standards. 

Your child’s experience at ASL will not be impacted by our inspectorate. We will continue to meet and exceed the independent school standards set out by the DfE and deliver an exceptional American education to each of our students.