Guidance

Technology requirements to contract as an Ofsted inspector

Your electronic device will need to meet certain specifications to allow you to work as an Ofsted inspector.

• From: Ofsted
• Published: 19 January 2022
• Last updated: 5 September 2024 — See all updates

Applies to England

As a contracted inspector, you are required to provide your own electronic device to work on.

There are both device and software specifications that must be met. These are reviewed annually and, if necessary, will be updated.

Device specifications

Ofsted inspectors who inspect in our schools, further education and skills, teacher development and online education accreditation scheme (OEAS) remits are required to provide and use an electronic device meeting the following specifications:

	Required specification	Enhanced specification
Operating system	Windows 10 or 11	Windows 10 or 11
Processor	Intel i5 or AMD Ryzen 5	Intel i7 or AMD Ryzen 7
Memory RAM	8GB	16GB

Ofsted inspectors who inspect in our early years and social care remits are required to provide and use an electronic device meeting the following specifications:

	Required specification	Enhanced specification
Operating system	Windows 10 or 11	Windows 10 or 11
Processor	Intel i3 or AMD Ryzen 3	Intel i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 Intel i7 or AMD Ryzen 7
Memory RAM	4GB	8GB 16GB

Software specifications

For all Ofsted inspectors, the software programmes required are:

• disk encryption

• anti-virus, malware and spyware protection

• a web browser, which will need to be the latest version of one of the following:

  • Microsoft Edge
  • Google Chrome
  • Mozilla Firefox

Microsoft Office

You must be able to access, review and edit files with one of the following:

• Microsoft Office 2021 (or later)

• Microsoft 365

After you have registered your interest

When you have told us you want to become a contracted Ofsted inspector, if you are successful, we will provide more detailed instructions on the above and your information assurance responsibilities.

These will form part of your contract.

Published 19 January 2022
Last updated 5 September 2024 + show all updates

1. 5 September 2024

   Technology requirements updated.

2. 19 January 2022

   First published.