Getting the 'Achievement' evaluation judgement right using the Ofsted toolkit and your school's IDSR

Achievement is one of the most misunderstood aspects of Ofsted toolkit on inspection — and even the most experienced leaders can misjudge it.

In this flagship episode of The Leadership Lens, I take a deep, unhurried look at what achievement really means under the current Ofsted framework. Drawing on inspection experience and school leadership practice, this episode explores how achievement is built over time, how it is evaluated through the IDSR and on-site evidence, and why language, interpretation and professional dialogue matter just as much as the data itself.

This episode is designed to help school leaders move beyond headline measures and colour coding, and towards a confident, accurate understanding of how achievement is judged in practice.

In this episode, we explore:

What achievement actually is — and why it can’t be reduced to results alone

How inspectors use the IDSR, and what it does and doesn’t show Why three-year averages matter, particularly for small schools

How national distribution banding and statistical significance really work

Achievement for disadvantaged pupils and pupils with SEND

The difference between expected and strong in the Toolkit

Foundational knowledge, readiness for next steps, and curriculum impact

Why on-site evidence, learning walks, and case sampling are essential How professional curiosity helps inspectors — and leaders — see beyond the data

This episode is particularly relevant for headteachers, executive leaders, senior leadership teams, governors, and anyone involved in self-evaluation, inspection preparation, or school improvement.

🎧 How to listen

You can listen to The Leadership Lens for free on:

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OR 👉 https://the-leadership-lens.mykajabi.com/podcasts/the-leadership-lens-free-podcast/episodes/2149138846

⭐ Premium Membership – Go Deeper Premium members of The Leadership Lens receive far more than the podcast alone.

This episode is accompanied by a full training script and slide deck, designed to support:

Senior leadership team discussions

Governor briefings

Accurate self-evaluation against the achievement criteria

Confident professional dialogue during inspection

Premium membership gives you access to:

Full training scripts linked directly to the Ofsted Toolkit

Editable slide decks for SLT and governors

Inspection-ready explanations of complex areas like achievement, curriculum impact, SEND and disadvantage

Leadership tools that save time and reduce uncertainty

Ongoing professional development content rooted in real inspection practice

👉Join here: https://tinyurl.com/3pp3x67s

If you have ever found yourself thinking “We’re doing the right things, but I’m not sure how this will land on inspection”, the premium membership is designed for you.