Quality Assurance Review

Honest and insightful conversations driving school improvement.

The Quality Assurance Review (QA Review) is Challenge Partners’ sector-leading peer audit, with its laser focus on teaching and learning, curriculum and outcomes, narrowing achievement gaps, and leadership at all levels. Most schools in our partnership opt to have a QA Review each year, seeing it as a catalysing comma in an ongoing school improvement dialogue among colleagues and peers.

Overview

Our popular flagship programme is a three-day rigorous peer evaluation. Headed by an expert lead reviewer, reviews are conducted by a trained team of headteachers and senior leaders from schools within Challenge Partners. 

Working with the host school, they celebrate the school’s strengths and identify areas for development, looking closely at the experiences of pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds or with additional needs. 

All review activities are joint and all outputs are agreed with the school – in a robust process that is done with, not to. 

James Aldred, Headteacher, The Garibaldi School

QAR Flow Chart

How does it work?

Each school hosts an annual review, and reciprocates by sending their headteacher and senior leaders to review other schools in the partnership, providing unique experiential learning and continuous professional development for all involved. 

Schools have the option to apply for accreditation in Areas of Excellence to celebrate exceptional practice and share with the network. 


Vicky Barwell, Principal of Rushey Mead Academy

Kestrel Mead

The Review Report

Following the QA Review, host schools will receive a report that captures the agreed What Works Wells and Even Better Ifs as discussed in the reflection meeting.

Benefits of participating in a QA review

An annual audit of school improvement

An audit of strengths and development areas as part of your evaluation and school improvement cycle 

Hosting a review

Unique experiential leadership development opportunities for leaders and senior staff through hosting a review, and reviewing other schools, with coaching from the lead reviewer 

A review report

A review report to highlight strengths, areas for development and next steps 

Optional accreditation

Optional accreditation of areas of excellent practice to celebrate with your staff and share across the partnership 

97%

of schools said participating in the QA Review had left their school in a better place

Orchard Mead

95%

of reviewers brought an idea back to their own schools to discuss as a result of taking part in a QA Review in the past year

2024/25 School Brochure

Find out the full details including pricing of our 2024/25 QA Review, testimonials and more in our brochure.