What the CSI is
The Catholic Schools Inspection (CSI) is the national framework that judges how faithfully a Catholic school lives out its mission. It replaced the old Section 48 inspections and is run by the Catholic Education Service (CES) on behalf of the bishops of England and Wales. Every Catholic school is inspected at least once every five years. The CES delivers the inspection diocese by diocese, which means in our 112 schools and academies across 11 local authorities the booking and scheduling sit with the Diocese of Shrewsbury Education Office.
Your inspection looks at three core questions. How well does the school live, grow and enrich its Catholic life and mission? How good is religious education? How well does the school provide collective worship? The judgements feed into a written report that is published on the diocesan website and on your school site.
Who manages the booking
The Episcopal Vicar to Education and Director of Schools, Canon David Roberts, has overall responsibility. The Education team handles the day-to-day administration, including allocation of inspectors, scheduling and quality assurance. School Support Officers within the team also act as Denominational Inspectors, so the people supporting your preparation are often the people working within the inspection system itself.
Write to education@dioceseofshrewsbury.org or david.roberts@dioceseofshrewsbury.org to confirm your inspection window. The Education Office sits at the Curial Office, 2 Park Road South, Prenton, Wirral CH43 4UX, telephone 0151 652 9855.
How to book your inspection
- Check your last inspection date. If you are approaching the five-year mark, contact the Education Office at least two terms ahead.
- Email the Director of Schools. Include your URN, school name, headteacher name, chair of governors, and your preferred inspection window.
- Confirm the lead inspector. The Education Office will assign a CSI inspector and confirm dates in writing.
- Receive the pre-inspection paperwork. You will be sent the inspection schedule, evidence requirements and timings.
- Brief governors and staff. Make sure the chair of governors and the foundation governors know the dates and what is expected of them.
How the headteacher prepares
The single most important document is the Catholic Self-Evaluation Document (CSED). Inspectors read this before they arrive and use it as the spine of the inspection. Be honest about strengths and gaps. Inspectors are quicker to trust a self-evaluation that names the areas needing work than one that paints a picture too good to be true.
Alongside the CSED, gather your evidence base. Inspectors typically expect to see:
- RE schemes of work for every year group, mapped against the CES curriculum directory.
- Collective worship plans across the year, including liturgical seasons and feast days.
- Chaplaincy provision and a record of the school-parish link, including sacramental preparation.
- Pupil voice evidence, including book scrutinies in RE.
- Governor minutes showing scrutiny of Catholic life and RE.
- Staff CPD records including the CCRS and any RE Mandate evidence.
Briefing governors
Inspectors meet your foundation governors. They will ask what governors know about the Catholic life of the school, RE outcomes and worship. Hold a governor briefing two weeks before the inspection. Walk them through the CSED, recent RE data, and the chaplaincy plan. Remind them of the Bishop's framing of the diocesan mission.
The Catholic Church has always seen education as a way to be able to witness to the faith in the saving work of Jesus Christ in a convincing and gentle way.
After the inspection
The lead inspector shares feedback with the headteacher and chair of governors at the end of the visit. The written report follows within a fixed timeframe. Once published, the report goes on the school website and on the diocesan site. The Education Office will work with you on any actions arising. Where the inspection identifies development priorities, your School Support Officer will agree a follow-up plan.
The Diocese is determined that all the Catholic maintained schools for which it is responsible as Trustee will be and will remain truly worthy of the description Catholic. The CSI is the public record of that promise to 43,000 children across our schools.
To begin a booking, email education@dioceseofshrewsbury.org with your school name and current inspection window.
