Private school inspections are being deferred during the coronavirus outbreak, it was announced this morning.

The Independent Schools Inspectorate, which oversees inspections for UK independent schools, announced this morning it would defer all scheduled inspections because of the outbreak of Covid-19.

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In a statement on the ISI’s website, chief inspector Kate Richards said: “In recognition of the exceptional circumstances and the significant challenges schools are currently facing, the Department for Education has, this morning, confirmed that all scheduled ISI inspections will be deferred, including those scheduled for this week.”

“We will update you with further information as soon as possible.”

The Department for Education told the ISI to defer all scheduled inspections this morning. 

The news follows the announcement last night that Ofsted would be putting all state school inspections on hold to stem the spread of coronavirus. 

However, inspections will go ahead in both state and independent schools in the event of a safeguarding concern. 

A spokesperson for the ISI told Tes that independent schools had been in touch about the difficulties of holding inspections during the outbreak. 

“Their primary duties are to the child and some of them were feeling that would be compromised if they were getting ready for inspections,” they said.

A spokesperson for the Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference (HMC), a group of independent schools in the UK, said: “Suspending inspections is the only sensible decision at a time when schools are doing their best to stay open and focusing on helping pupils and staff through this time of national crisis.”

“If inspections are ultimately about what’s best for children, it is not best for them to be pulling staff away at this time.”