NACE Challenge Award

To apply for the award, you must show that the school meets the majority of the Challenge Framework criteria. This includes evidencing challenge for all and high-quality provision for more able learners, and showing that where provision is developing there is clear evidence of capacity to improve. Your evidence must include a case study, in which you are asked to describe a feature of your challenge provision or more able learner practice. The school must also hold an Ofsted grading of at least 'Expected Standard' in the following areas: curriculum and teaching; achievement; personal development and well-being; leadership and governance. Independent schools inspected by the ISI and schools in Wales inspected by Estyn will be assessed on a case-by-case basis, taking into account recommendations and/or strengths identified in more recent inspection reports.

Please note that there are no restrictions on which schools can use the NACE Challenge Framework, and indeed we very much encourage you to use this to support your school improvement journey, whatever your Ofsted grading.

Applying for assessment

Once your school is ready to apply for assessment, you should complete the online application form. An assessor will be appointed to our school, and you will receive a confirmation email with contact details for your lead assessor and a summary of the process and required documents.

Stage 1: pre-assessment half-day visit

This stage is mandatory for all schools being assessed for the first time.

An assessor will visit your school to discuss with the SLT and more able lead the school's progress against the Challenge Framework criteria and the evidence which supports your judgements. At the end of the visit, the assessor will provide feedback on your school's readiness to proceed to formal assessment, which will be followed by a written report outlining current strengths and any suggested next steps.

Stage 2: assessment day

The assessment day is based around a pre-agreed schedule and will include a learning walk, interviews with staff, governors and learners, and further evidence scrutiny. Your school will be verbally advised of the outcome at the end of the day and receive a written report shortly afterwards, which will include recommendations for your school’s ongoing action plan.

Stage 1 takes place remotely. Your portfolio of evidence and other key documents should be sent electronically or in hard copy to your assessor, who will review and may request additional information. When satisfied with the detail provided, the assessor will undertake a video call with the more able coordinator to review the submission. The scrutiny of evidence is a rigorous process, focused on evidencing of the quality of teaching and learning and assessment outlined in your school’s NACE Challenge Framework self-evaluation. The assessor will provide feedback on your submission and level of readiness for stage 2 of the assessment.

For stage 2, the assessor will spend a day in school (schools with 1,000 or more pupils require two assessors). This will follow the same timetabled schedule as for UK schools, but may require a longer day. Extra scrutiny of evidence may be necessary to review any in-school evidence not available at stage 1. You will be verbally advised of the outcome at the end of the day and will receive a written report shortly afterwards, which will include recommendations for your school’s ongoing action plan.

On confirmation that your school has been successful in its application for the NACE Challenge Award, NACE will provide celebratory materials, including a Challenge Award certificate to display in your school, an accreditation logo to add to your school website and stationery, and a press release to help share the news with local media. Leading staff at accredited schools are also invited to share and develop their expertise through contributions to NACE publications; hosting Challenge Award School Experiences; delivering consultancy or CPD as a NACE Associate; training as a Challenge Award Assessor.

Your school accreditation report, which includes highlighted strengths and recommendations for continuing improvement, can be used to support ongoing action planning and review. Accreditation is valid for three years, at which point you will be invited to apply for reaccreditation. For schools working towards second accreditation, a free 1-2-1 Challenge Check-In (a phone consultancy session with a NACE assessor) is available, to help ensure you are on track to meet the objectives in your action plan, providing an opportunity to reflect on progress and discuss any challenges.

Accredited schools are invited to attend our termly online Challenge Award Schools Network Group, providing opportunities to share effective practice, discuss current priorities, gain inspiration, and seek ideas and support for continued improvement. As long as you maintain NACE membership, you will also continue to have access to the NACE Challenge Hub and our full members' resource library, providing access to regularly updated resources to support your school’s ongoing development in more able provision.

The reaccreditation process is very straightforward. Schools are asked to demonstrate that they are still meeting the Challenge Award criteria, and the process is more tailored to the individual school context. Features of the reaccreditation process include:

• No requirement to submit a second supporting portfolio of evidence. Schools will be asked to submit their electronic self-evaluation against the six Elements, a brief account of any actions taken against previous development points and key policy documentation. We also ask schools to describe a feature of more able learner practice which they have developed since accreditation in the form of a case study account (two sides of A4).
• The assessment day itself is more streamlined, with more time given to the interview with the more able lead/senior leaders to talk about their journey since the previous accreditation.

Schools that have been accredited with the Challenge Award on two or more occasions have the opportunity to apply to be a NACE Challenge Ambassador School during subsequent accreditations.

Stage 1: pre-assessment

The pre-assessment visit is compulsory for schools applying for accreditation for the first time, and optional for UK schools applying for reaccreditation. For schools outside the UK pre-assessment is compulsory for each accreditation.

• Primary or secondary school: £625

Stage 2: assessment

The costs for NACE Challenge Award assessment are based on school size. The same fee applies for first accreditations and for subsequent standard reaccreditations.

• 150 pupils or less (1 assessor): £1,100
• 150-499 pupils (1 assessor): £1,250
• 500-999 pupils (1 assessor): £1,550
• 1,000-1,999 pupils (2 assessors): £2,250
• 2,000+ pupils: price on application

Challenge Ambassador School reaccreditation

Schools that have already been accredited with the Challenge Award on two or more occasions have the opportunity to apply to be a NACE Challenge Ambassador School at subsequent accreditations.

• 150 pupils or less (1 assessor, half day): £550
• 150-499 pupils (1 assessor): £795
• 500-999 pupils (1 assessor): £995
• 1,000+ pupils (1 assessor): £1,250
• 2,000+ pupils (2 assessors): price on application

Schools outside the UK: price on application

Please note: assessors' travel and other expenses will be invoiced separately following each visit (currently £0.45 per mile, and including overnight accommodation where necessary).