1. Introducing School Inspections -- PART I. Understanding School Inspection Frameworks -- 2. The Evidence Base for School Inspection Frameworks -- 3. Validation of Inspection Frameworks and Methods -- PART II. The Current Evidence Base of School Inspection Research -- 4. School Inspections and School Improvement; The Current Evidence Base -- 5. Side Effects of School Inspection; Motivations and Contexts for Strategic Responses -- 6. Mechanisms and Contexts of Effective Inspections -- PART III. Conclusion -- 7. Emerging Models of School Inspections; Shifting Roles and Responsibilities.This book provides an overview and discussion of the evidence base of effective school inspections; reflecting on issues of validity and reliability of school inspections in relation to school effectiveness research, unintended consequences and emergent roles and responsibilities of Inspectorates of Education. Chapters include findings from systematic literature reviews and primary research while also presenting a range of practical examples from inspections systems from all over the world. The book provides relevant background materials for Inspectorates of Education who aim to improve the effectiveness of their systems and working methods, as well as clear examples for researchers aiming to analyse and understand the effectiveness of these systems. The final chapter reflects on changes in the current education landscape and discusses newer models of school inspections that fit within a more decentralized inspection system.