Learn about the new Ofsted report cards.
Ofsted (the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills) is an inspection body that inspects and reports on England’s education providers (for young people) including schools, nurseries, colleges and childminders. In Autumn 2025, Ofsted will be moving away from its current grading system (one or two-word judgements) to report cards. So let’s take a look at what we can expect in the new academic year…
How are inspections working currently?
At the moment, schools are inspected and given a grade of either:
- Outstanding
- Good
- Requires Improvement
- Inadequate
- Special Measures
How often schools are inspected depends on their grade, so it can either be every four years or within 30 months. Schools are notified of an inspection usually the day before it takes place and the inspection itself lasts up to two days. As part of the inspection, inspectors talk to staff and students and invite comments from parents. They also look at various school records and data, pupil work and safeguarding information. 1 For more information about how inspections work currently, here is the Inspecting schools: guide for maintained and academy schools.
‘Up until now, schools that are rated “inadequate” have become sponsored academies and are supported by another outstanding school or charity to improve.’ 2
What will change in the new academic year?
Rather than giving a school a single one or two-word judgement, schools will be given a report card where four key aspects are given one of five gradings. There will also be a separate section covering if safeguarding duties have been properly met in the school.
The four aspects they will be grading are:
- Quality of education
- Behaviour and attendance
- Personal development
- Leadership and management
The five possible grades for each aspect are:
- Causing concern
- Attention needed
- Secure
- Strong
- Exemplary
The frequency of new inspections has yet to be decided but will be determined in an upcoming consultation. Schools that are required to improve with the new report card system will have support from regional teams to turn around but those that still do not improve will similarly to before becoming part of a ‘successful academy trust’. This will happen even if the school is already an academy. 2
Why are inspections changing?
Ofsted reform is something many educators have been calling for, for a long time. The one or two-word judgements don’t fairly encapsulate a school and really showcase what it is doing well, even if it needs support in some areas. The changes put forward are partly in response to the tragic death of headteacher, Ruth Perry. Her school’s Ofsted inspection was cited in the coroner’s verdict as a contributing factor, “suicide: contributed to by an Ofsted inspection carried out in November 2022.” The coroner highlighted concerns about the one-word judgement, explaining that, “one-word judgements meant the same grading of “inadequate” could be given to a school which was “dreadful in all respects”, and to another which was good but with issues which could have been remedied by the time the Ofsted report was published.” 3
What are your thoughts?
Does this new inspection framework go far enough to meet the call for reform? Ruth Perry’s sister, Julia Walters, has criticised the reform, explaining:
“The proposal that’s coming out, in this new report card, just fundamentally fails to address the key concern which is the very real and present risk of more terrible and preventable deaths like my sister’s…My very real fear is the introduction of this report card will introduce more areas of inspection, more judgements and really poorly defined criteria,” 4
An open letter has been shared with Ofsted, signed by school leaders, former inspectors and national organisations, that proposes the new system ‘fails to address the recommendations of the coroner following the tragic, preventable death of Ruth Perry.’ 4
Read more about the new school ratings.
References
- GOV.UK (2024) ‘Inspecting schools: guide for maintained and academy schools’. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/inspecting-schools-guide-for-maintained-and-academy-schools (Accessed: 30 April 2025)
- Clarke, V. & Evans, A. (2025) ‘What is Ofsted and and how will the new school ratings work?’. Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-65013919 (Accessed: 30 April 2025)
- Clarke, V. & de Ferrer, M. (2023) ‘Ruth Perry: Ofsted inspection ‘contributed’ to head teacher’s death’. Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-67639942 (Accessed: 30 April 2025)
- Waple, K. (2025) ‘Ruth Perry’s sister criticises ‘rushed’ reforms’. Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgn75nqg32o (Accessed 30 April 2025)
