HM Inspectorate of Education

This report is mainly based on an analysis of the progress found in over 300 HMIE follow-through inspections on which reports were published between 2005 and 2008. The work was undertaken in schools in which we had  previously identified important or major weaknesses in key aspects. In those follow-through inspections we found much evidence of improvement and were able in most cases to disengage from further inspection activity in connection with the original inspection. This report identifies the key factors which led to improvement. It also draws on evidence from other HMIE tasks which identified successful approaches to school improvement.