With the updated Ofsted’s revised Education Inspection Framework (EIF), the shift from ‘leadership and management’ to ‘leadership and governance’ represents a significant change for all providers.

This is not simply a change in terminology; it marks a fundamental recalibration of accountability. Governance is now firmly in the inspection spotlight, with far greater scrutiny on how boards and governing bodies actively shape quality, culture and outcomes. Inspectors are increasingly focused on how governing bodies challenge, question and hold leaders to account.

In our recent webinar with Kerry Boffey, CEO and Founder of the Fellowship of Inspection Nominees (FIN) and Hayley Wilcox, Chief Operating Officer at Instep, we explored what this shift means in practice and how providers can respond with confidence.

From ‘best fit’ to ‘secure fit’: why the stakes are higher than ever

One of the most significant changes under the revised framework is the move from a ‘best fit’ model to a ‘secure fit’ approach. Providers must now demonstrate that each element of a judgement is securely met before progressing to a stronger grade.

This shift raises the stakes considerably. Under secure fit, providers cannot afford to ‘miss’ a single key criterion. A weakness in one area can prevent progression to the next grade, even where performance elsewhere is strong. For many organisations, this creates real pressure – particularly for governors who must be confident that nothing is overlooked.

For governing bodies, this means being able to demonstrate:

• How they understand performance across the organisation
• How they identify risk
• How they challenge leaders constructively
• What actions they have taken in response to concerns

Inspectors are looking for evidence that governors know their organisation well. That knowledge must be grounded in accurate, accessible information rather than high-level summaries.

In practice, Governors must move beyond reassurance to evidence, showing not just that they receive data, but that they interrogate it, understand it, and act on it.

Inclusion was another central theme. Ofsted’s expectations around disadvantaged learners, those with SEND, and learners with lower prior attainment are sharper. The question is no longer whether support exists, but whether leaders and governors can clearly demonstrate its impact.

Inspectors are increasingly exploring how well providers understand performance gaps and what tangible difference their interventions make. Visibility, precision and impact are key.

Strengthening governance through inclusion: a provider perspective from Instep

Hayley shared how Instep strengthened its governance approach by making learner data more visible and actionable through Aptem.

Instep utilised Aptem’s marker functionality to identify learners requiring additional support. From there, they built a dedicated inclusion dashboard within Aptem, enabling leaders and governors to see at a glance:

• Which learners had identified support needs
• How those learners were progressing
• How outcomes compared with their peers
• Where intervention was required

This visibility strengthens governance conversations. Leaders can explore trends, identify gaps and respond early.

For Instep, the analysis revealed that overall achievement rates among learners with support needs are strong and broadly comparable with their peers, demonstrating that support strategies are having a meaningful impact. However, it also highlighted that EPA outcomes were lower for some learners with identified needs. This insight enables the team to take pre-emptive action, such as engaging earlier with assessment organisations to ensure reasonable adjustments are recognised and applied appropriately.

This level of granular analysis has enabled Instep not only to identify gaps, but also to evidence the impact of targeted interventions over time. Governors now have clear visibility of both support strategies and their measurable outcomes, strengthening assurance and strategic decision-making.

Secure oversight in practice: how Aptem supports inspection readiness

Aptem is built to give providers the structure and clarity required in this new inspection landscape.

Group functionality allows organisations to create defined learner cohorts, such as inclusion groups, enabling filtered dashboards and targeted oversight. Custom markers allow providers to identify and track learners with specific needs at any stage of their programme.

Dashboards and reporting tools provide live visibility of progress, risk and performance. Leaders can filter by characteristics such as age, disability or qualification type, supporting meaningful scrutiny. User generic reporting enables providers to combine markers, ILR data, review activity and intervention records, creating a clear audit trail of identification, support and impact.

Taken together, these tools give governing bodies reliable, up-to-date insight and provide leadership teams with confidence that oversight is grounded in evidence.

In a secure fit framework, this kind of joined-up, evidence-based oversight is no longer optional – it is essential. Providers must be able to demonstrate not just intent, but implementation and impact, with clarity and precision.

More importantly, they enable a proactive and structured approach to governance, where risks are identified early, questions are informed by data, and actions are clearly tracked.

In the context of the shift to leadership and governance, this proactive and structured approach is key. By embedding clear systems and accessible data, providers are well positioned to demonstrate secure oversight and continuous improvement.

For many providers, this represents a cultural shift as much as a procedural one, moving from periodic reporting to continuous, data-informed scrutiny that withstands inspection pressure.

Watch the full webinar: leadership and governance under Ofsted’s revised EIF

For further insight from Kerry Boffey and Hayley Wilcox, Chief Operating Officer at Instep, and to see how Aptem can help providers strengthen oversight, you can watch the full webinar recording here.

If you would like to discuss how Aptem can support your organisation’s approach to governance and inspection readiness, our team would be happy to help:

• New to Aptem? Book a demo today.
• Already using Aptem? Visit our Help Centre to learn how to make the most of Aptem.