Strengthen strategic governance, improve inspection readiness and support effective challenge with this comprehensive governor question and self-evaluation framework aligned to the 2025 Ofsted Inspection Framework.
Designed for governors, trustees, MAT boards and school leaders, this practical resource provides a professionally structured bank of high-quality governance questions covering all major inspection areas including safeguarding, curriculum, attendance, behaviour, inclusion, finance, leadership, sixth form, early years and personal development.
More than just a list of questions, this framework supports governing boards in developing meaningful oversight, evidence-informed challenge and strategic accountability.
What’s Included
This extensive governance framework includes:
Strategic Governor Questions
Carefully structured questions designed to support:
- professional dialogue
- strategic challenge
- triangulation of evidence
- leadership accountability
- inspection preparation
Suggested Responses and Follow-Up Prompts
Each question includes example response points and areas governors may wish to explore further during discussions with school leaders.
Evidence Sources
Every section includes suggested evidence to help governors strengthen monitoring and validate leaders’ evaluations through:
- data
- stakeholder voice
- monitoring visits
- external validation
- safeguarding reviews
- curriculum scrutiny
Governor Self-Evaluation Framework
Includes a structured self-review section for governors to:
- identify strengths
- evaluate effectiveness
- prioritise development areas
- plan strategic actions
- review impact over time
Sections Included
Vision, Values and Strategic Leadership
Explore strategic priorities, school context, leadership impact and governance effectiveness.
Self-Evaluation and School Improvement
Support governors in evaluating strengths, priorities, implementation and sustained improvement over time.
Role of Governors
Focus on challenge, accountability, succession planning, strategic oversight and governance effectiveness.
Safeguarding
Comprehensive safeguarding governance questions including:
- safeguarding culture
- low-level concerns
- filtering and monitoring
- online harms
- attendance as safeguarding
- safer recruitment
- DSL oversight
- chronology audits
Curriculum
Questions linked to:
- curriculum ambition
- sequencing
- SEND and disadvantaged access
- subject leadership
- cumulative knowledge
- teaching quality
Behaviour and Attendance
Includes:
- suspensions and exclusions
- persistent absence
- vulnerable pupils
- self-regulation
- misogyny and peer pressure
- attendance interventions
- emotionally based school avoidance
Inclusion and Disadvantage
Supports strategic oversight of:
- disadvantaged pupils
- SEND provision
- equality duties
- adaptations
- barriers to learning
- external agency support
Personal Development and Well-being
Includes questions on:
- British values
- enrichment
- resilience
- online influence
- digital literacy
- AI-generated content
- misinformation
- pupil well-being
- 21st century life
Reading and Early Literacy
Focuses on:
- phonics
- reading culture
- vocabulary
- spoken language
- reading across the curriculum
Finance and Use of Resources
Supports governance oversight of:
- budget monitoring
- value for money
- Pupil Premium
- PE and Sport Premium
- intervention funding
- workload and wellbeing
- alternative provision
Early Years and Sixth Form
Includes phase-specific questions for:
- transition
- personal development
- destinations
- careers guidance
- progression
- readiness for next stages
Why Schools and Trusts Use This Framework
This resource helps governing boards:
- prepare confidently for inspection
- strengthen strategic oversight
- improve challenge and accountability
- evaluate impact over time
- triangulate evidence effectively
- understand school priorities deeply
- support continuous improvement
The framework reflects current Ofsted themes and governance expectations including:
- safeguarding culture
- inclusion and belonging
- workload and well-being
- digital safety
- vulnerable groups
- strategic governance
- evidence-informed decision-making
