Changes to Ofsted ratings for schools

The ratings of state schools as we know has changed. Single word headlines from ‘Inadequate’ through to ‘Outstanding’ are no longer used. In September 2025 this will be replaced by report cards. This is following calls for change that single word headlines do not provide a full insight into how schools are performing.

Report cards are hoped to increase transparency in schools and allow parents to have a greater understanding of a school’s assessment. Formal consultation begins in January 2025 as to exactly how these cards will look and what they will contain.

Schools that are inspected between September 2024 and September 2025 will continue to receive a rating in the four existing subcategories:

• Quality of education
• Leadership & management
• Behaviour and attitudes
• Personal development

Any schools that are struggling to perform will still receive government intervention.

The Department for Education has reported that 77% of parents support the introduction of report cards.

Those schools that are facing challenges will receive assistance from the government in order to improve and provide children with a high standard of education. In combatting issues the government will not simply make changes to the school’s management to create change and are introducing regional improvement teams to provide specific help in the areas of concern. However, for schools in the most need, transferring to new management and structural change may be necessary.

Further adjustments to school inspection handbooks

Aside from the replacement of the use of single word headlines to describe schools, there have also been other changes to Ofsted’s school inspection handbooks. This includes changes to inspection notifications and a pause of inspections to allow time for improvement where safeguarding is a concern.

It therefore awaits to be seen how these changes will impact schools and how effective parents and guardians will find report cards to be.

This content is correct at time of publication