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HMI

Deborah James

Active in published reports from Feb 2012 to Sept 2026.
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Inspections

62

As lead

51

82% of visits

Last 12 months

6

Remits

2

Schools & FE 46 · Other 16

Grades given vs. national, last 5 years

Schools & FE7 graded by Deborah
DeborahNational
Outstanding0%10%-10
Good43%66%-23
Requires improvement57%19%+38
Inadequate0%5%-5

Small sample: fewer than 10 graded inspections, so differences mean little.

Inspections by year

Writing style

From 24 reports, each compared with reports of the same type that got the same grade. Language only: it says nothing about the judgements themselves.

Deborah James's reports read more critical than others with the same grade (warmer than 9% of inspectors).

more criticaltypicalwarmer
Tone vs peers
−15
Length
−4%
Next steps
4.5
per report
Hedged
10%
of sentences

Topics that come up most in their reports

Curriculum 100%Teaching & assessment 98%Leadership & governance 95%Progress & outcomes 84%Behaviour 79%Maths 55%Reading & phonics 50%SEND & inclusion 48%

Area grades (report cards and judgements)

16 to 19 study programmes9
Achievement7
Attendance and behaviour6
Behaviour and attitudes12
Behaviour and safety1
Curriculum and teaching6
Inclusion6
Leadership and governance6
Leadership and management26
Outcomes10
Personal development12
Personal development and wellbeing6
Personal development, behaviour and welfare10
Post 16 provision4
Quality of education12
Quality of teaching1
Teaching, learning and assessment10

All inspections (62)

Show all 62 inspections

Where they've inspected

Often inspects with

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