Schools in the United Kingdom are inspected and rated by official education regulators, which helps expats assess school quality. For expats, the most important body in England is Ofsted, which regularly inspects state and many private schools. Expats in the UK will see schools rated in four main categories: Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, or Inadequate. Inspections assess factors such as quality of teaching, student achievement, behaviour, leadership, safeguarding, and overall effectiveness. Inspection reports are publicly available online and are widely used by parents when choosing schools. Expats in the UK should note that Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have their own inspection bodies with slightly different systems, but the principle is the same. While inspection ratings are a useful starting point, expats are encouraged to visit schools, speak to other parents, and consider location and catchment areas, as a school’s environment and fit can be just as important as its official rating.