An audit tool for use by school leaders to accurately evaluate the extent to which their schools meet the requirements of the Independent School Standards (2014). This tool was created with reference to DfE guidance:
 
It is written in plain English. Not all of the wording of the standards is included on this document. Instead, for each standard, there is a set of questions based on relevant DfE guidance that require a yes/no response to determine if your school meets the requirements of the standard.
 
This is version 11 - April 2026: There are two significant changes due to the addition of new standards 16A and 32A. Because of changes in data laws from June 2026 there is new guidance which has been linked to standard 33. The rest of the changes are minor, focused on improving clarity and additional guidance. All changes are highlighted as usual and the tool now has a contents page for quick navigation.
 
“I found it invaluable because it allowed me to meticulously identify which standards were met and which required further attention. The tool is highly comprehensive and requires a careful, respectful approach to ensure thorough completion and to generate actionable points that will help meet the ISS requirements…I highly recommend this tool to school leaders ...”
Samantha Price, Principal – Cambian Spring Hill School