In many countries school inspection is a major way in which schools are held accountable. This article sets out some of the limitations of inspection. The aims of inspection, the language of inspection and the inspection of standards, teaching and learning are examined critically. It is argued that school inspection does have its uses as an instrument of accountability but these are far more limited than governments or inspectorates themselves acknowledge.

In the period since 1944 English primary education has been subject to recurring criticism. Official enquiries, surveys of attainment, individual causes-célèbres and the pronouncements of pundits have drawn attention to purported 'crises'. The paper discusses the background, procedures and findings of the earliest of the post-war official enquiries - an unpublished and previously uncited investigation by the Central Advisory Council for Education (England).

In the period since 1944 English primary education has been subject to recurring criticism. Official enquiries, surveys of attainment, individual causes-célèbres and the pronouncements of pundits have drawn attention to purported 'crises'. The paper discusses the background, procedures and findings of the earliest of the post-war official enquiries - an unpublished and previously uncited investigation by the Central Advisory Council for Education.