Keyword: school inspection

School inspection is a function in school systems which aims for quality assurance and quality development by having external persons monitor and evaluate the work in schools. This article begins by sketching the historical development of this function in schooling and other systems. The main features of 'new school inspections' which are seen as important are explained and characteristic elements of evidence-based governance models and their relationship to school administration is discussed. In the second part of the article, theoretical models which conceptualize the conditions, processes and effects of this complex instrument of school governance are explained. Finally, the state of empirical research in this field is summarized which show that the results with respect to effects and effective processes remain inconclusive. The article concludes with open questions for further research.