How OFSTED will define Outstanding in Leadership and management

From January 2012 this is how OFSTED will define Outstanding Leadership and management which includes School Governance.

The pursuit of excellence in all of the school’s activities is demonstrated by an uncompromising and highly successful drive to strongly improve achievement, or maintain the highest levels of achievement, for all pupils including disabled pupils and those with special educational needs over a sustained period of time.

All leaders and managers, including the governing body, are highly ambitious for the school and lead by example. They base their actions on a deep and accurate understanding of the school’s performance and of staff and pupils’ skills and attributes. Key leaders focus relentlessly on improving teaching and learning, resulting in teaching that is likely to be outstanding and at least consistently good.

The school’s curriculum provides highly positive, memorable experiences and rich opportunities for high quality learning, has a very positive impact on all pupils’ behaviour and safety and contributes very well to pupils’ achievement and to their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.

The school has highly successful strategies for engaging with parents and carers, to the very obvious benefit of pupils, including those who might traditionally find working with the school difficult. The school’s arrangements for safeguarding pupils meet statutory requirements and give no cause for concern

Taken from http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/resources/draft-evaluation-schedule-for-inspection-of-maintained-schools-and-academies-january-2012