Sign off and download a SEF

Written for: Headteachers and senior leaders who finalise and share the school’s self-evaluation.

When your self-evaluation is ready, you can download it as a document to share, and the headteacher can sign it off. Signing off saves a permanent snapshot of the evaluation as it stands, with its evidence references, so you can always show what the school’s evaluation said on a given date. This article follows on from Write your self-evaluation.

Before you start

Downloads and sign-off use only saved content. If any area shows Unsaved changes, the page says “Open the areas marked “Unsaved changes” to save or continue editing. Exports and sign-off use saved content.” Open each of those areas and click Save area, or click Discard changes to go back to the saved evaluation.

Your school’s inspection framework must also be confirmed. See Write your self-evaluation.

Download the self-evaluation

1. In the sidebar, open Leadership, then Strategy & assurance, and choose Self-Evaluation (SEF).
2. Click Export at the top of the evaluation areas.
3. Choose a format:
   • Download PDF: a school-branded document of every area, with its judgement, evaluation, evidence notes, linked evidence and next steps.
   • Download Word: the same content as a Word document you can edit.
   • Inspection bundle (ZIP): the PDF and Word documents together with copies of the evidence files linked to the evaluation.

The file downloads to your computer. When you download an inspection bundle, a message tells you how many files were included. Any evidence that couldn’t be included, for example because it’s no longer available to your account, is listed in the bundle’s manifest instead.

Downloads contain your full evaluation and evidence titles. Store and share them through your school’s usual secure route.

Sign off the evaluation

1. Under Sign-off, click Review & sign off.
2. The Review saved evaluation window lists every area with its judgement. Click an area to read its evaluation, evidence and next steps.
3. Add a Review note (optional), for example the meeting where the evaluation was agreed.
4. Click Sign off snapshot.

You’ll see “SEF snapshot signed off”, and the signed evaluation opens. Sign-off doesn’t calculate an overall grade for the school: it records the area judgements your leaders have made.

After sign-off, you can keep editing the self-evaluation as usual. The signed snapshot doesn’t change, so sign off again when you reach the next agreed version.

Find and download a signed snapshot

Signed snapshots are listed under Signed snapshots, newest first, with the date, who signed and the framework used.

1. Click View snapshot next to the one you want.
2. Read the Signed evaluation.
3. Click Download signed PDF or Download signed Word.

Who can do this

• Sign-off: by default, only the headteacher can sign off. Other staff see “Sign-off is available to authorised school leaders.” in place of the button.
• Downloads: by default, headteachers, senior leaders, DSLs, SENCos and administrators can download the self-evaluation and signed snapshots. Without that permission, Export and the download buttons don’t appear.

Schools can change who has access. Ask your headteacher or Student Radar administrator if you need it.

If something doesn’t work

What you see	What to do
Export or Review & sign off is greyed out	An area has unsaved changes, or something is still saving. Save or discard your changes and try again.
“Snapshot not signed”	The saved evaluation may have changed since you opened the review. Close the window, reload and review again.
“The saved evaluation may have changed. Close and reopen this review before signing again.”	Click Back, then click Review & sign off again.
“Export failed”	Try the download again. If it keeps failing, reload the page.
“The signed record could not be exported. Reload to check its metadata, evidence and your current access.”	Reload the page, open the snapshot and try again. Your access may have changed.
“Snapshot unavailable.”	Click Retry.