The Ofsted Staff Survey (Nov 25) is a standardized questionnaire designed for completion by all staff members in a school, including teachers, leaders and support staff. It provides an evidence-based framework to evaluate the school environment across six key dimensions: Overall Staff Experience, Pupil Support and Inclusion, Behaviour and Safety, Leadership and School Effectiveness, Staff Wellbeing and Workload. The survey utilises a mix of quantitative ratings; ranging from "Strongly Agree" to "Strongly Disagree" and qualitative open-ended sections where staff can provide specific context for their scores.
The survey is divided into specific subscales that address the strategic and operational health of the school(s):
Leadership and School Effectiveness: This section assesses the strategic direction of the school, focusing on whether the institution is well-managed, how quickly leaders address academic gaps in core skills and the availability of professional development.
Staff Wellbeing and Workload: These questions gauge the internal culture, measuring levels of mutual respect, general job satisfaction and whether leadership actively takes steps to manage work-life balance and prevent burnout.
Behaviour and Safety: This domain evaluates the consistency of discipline and the effectiveness of bullying interventions, while also checking if teachers feel they have the backing of senior leadership when managing challenging situations.
Pupil Support and Inclusion: This subscale measures the quality of pastoral care and the practical support provided to vulnerable groups, including pupils with SEND, those from disadvantaged backgrounds or children in the social care system.
Questionnaire / Scales
Ofsted
The survey includes a specific subscale for staff wellbeing and workload, asking if leaders are considerate of professional health and if they actively take workloads into account to prevent burnout. It also gauges workplace culture by measuring mutual respect and staff pride in their school. If you want to take a closer, more in-depth look at staff wellbeing we recommend utilising a survey like the Quality of Working Life Scale or the Workplace Wellbeing Snapshot survey.
The Ofsted Staff Survey is a standardised diagnostic tool designed for all school personnel—including teachers, senior leaders and support staff—to evaluate the internal climate of an educational institution. It covers critical domains such as leadership effectiveness, staff workload and the consistency of pupil behaviour management.
