What Is Ofsted and How Will New School Ratings Work?

The recent changes to Ofsted's school ratings follow an inquest into the death of head teacher Ruth Perry, where a critical Ofsted inspection was found to have contributed to her suicide. Here's what these changes mean.

What Does Ofsted Do and How Are Schools Rated?

Ofsted, short for the Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services, and Skills, is the body responsible for inspecting educational institutions in England. This includes schools, nurseries, childminders, and colleges. Many parents rely on Ofsted’s ratings when deciding on a school for their child.

Previously, institutions were inspected every four years (or within 30 months for some) and were given one of four overall grades:

Outstanding

Good

Requires Improvement

Inadequate

Independent schools in England are either inspected by Ofsted or the Independent Schools Inspectorate. Inspections in the rest of the UK are handled by Estyn in Wales, Education Scotland, and the Education and Training Inspectorate in Northern Ireland.

How Are Ofsted Ratings Changing?

The new system will no longer assign a single overall grade to schools. For the 2024-2025 academic year, Ofsted will still use the four existing grades for individual sub-categories such as:

Overall school performance

Quality of education

Pupil behavior and attitudes

Staff development, leadership, and management

Safeguarding effectiveness

From September 2025, a new “report card” system will be introduced following a consultation. This change was driven by concerns that the previous one-word ratings oversimplified school assessments, particularly after Ruth Perry’s death.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has endorsed the new system, stating it will provide parents with a more comprehensive understanding of a school’s strengths and areas for improvement.

What Happens During an Ofsted Inspection?

Ofsted inspections typically last up to two days, during which inspectors observe lessons, talk to staff and students, and invite feedback from parents. Schools are usually notified the day before. While deferrals are possible, they are granted only in exceptional cases.

To improve consistency, Ofsted is piloting a system where inspections happen on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, with schools notified on Mondays.

The regulator is also considering new frameworks tailored to schools, colleges, and early education providers, set to take effect in September 2025. These new frameworks will emphasize "inclusion," focusing on how well schools support disadvantaged children and those with special educational needs.

What Happens After an Inspection?

Schools rated as inadequate may become sponsored academies, receiving help from an outstanding school or charity. The Department for Education will continue to intervene in failing schools, even after the single-word ratings are phased out.

A new pilot starting in September 2024 will allow schools with strong performance but safety concerns three months to address these issues before a final judgment is made.

Can Schools Appeal Their Ofsted Rating?

Schools can challenge their Ofsted ratings, with complaints handled by a senior inspector not involved in the original assessment. Recent changes, effective from April 2024, aim to make this process faster and more transparent.