Ofsted inspects all state-funded schools in England, including academies, around half of independent schools, and other care and education services. Concerns have been raised about the consequences of the Ofsted inspection grading of ‘inadequate’, and there have been widespread calls for reform, including abolishing single word judgements.

How do Ofsted inspections work?

Ofsted, the Office for Standards in Education, is the UK’s education regulator. It has responsibility in England for inspecting, regulating, and reporting on standards in education and care services for children and young people. Ofsted employs over 2,000 inspectors who are guided by inspection handbooks and judge school standards using the education inspection framework.

A full school inspection results in an overall standards judgement: outstanding, good, requires improvement or inadequate. Inspectors report on four main elements: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. They also assess other issues such as safeguarding.

There can be significant consequences of an inspection grading of ‘inadequate’. For example, a school might be removed from local authority oversight to be run by a government-funded trust as an academy instead.

How many schools are good and outstanding?

Ninety percent of state-funded schools are currently graded good or outstanding, with 8% requiring improvement, and 2% graded inadequate.

Across all phases of school, there are small regional variations in grading scores. However, there is greater variation at secondary level, as shown in the chart.

A chart showing the share of state-funded secondary schools rated good or outstanding by Ofsted by English region as of December 2023. London has the highest share of schools rated good or outstanding at 94% and the North West the lowest at 73%.
Note: State-funded schools. Excludes schools yet to undergo a full graded inspection.
Source: Ofsted, State-funded schools inspections and outcomes as at 31 December 2023

How could inspections be improved?

Teaching and leadership unions have long called for inspection reform. These calls were amplified following the death in January 2023 of a head teacher, Ruth Perry, whose school had been graded inadequate on safeguarding grounds.

In June 2023, Ofsted announced changes for schools that are judged inadequate on safeguarding grounds, but which would otherwise have been graded good or outstanding. Schools now also receive more guidance on when they are likely to be inspected, although they still only receive one day’s notice. There is a new complaints policy and new rules on pausing inspections in exceptional circumstances, including where school leaders need support with their well-being.

Single-word judgements were one issue raised in the Education Committee’s 2024 report into Ofsted’s work with schools. The government told the committee that such judgements were “an important feature” of Ofsted reports.

Debate on these judgements continues. Speaking for the Labour Party in March 2024, Bridget Phillipson told the Association of School and College Leaders that “the days of the one-word judgement” should end.

In May Ofsted’s Chief Inspector told the National Association of Head Teacher’s conference that he remained in favour as they give a “clear picture” and are contextualised by wider reports.

In Autumn 2024, Ofsted will respond to its ‘big listen’ consultation, which, among other topics, requested feedback on single-word judgements. The Education Committee’s 49 recommendations in their report on Ofsted’s work with schools will also remain relevant for the 2024 Parliament.

For more information, see the Library briefing Ofsted: School inspections in England.


Authors: Alpesh Maisuria and Nerys Roberts

Photo Credit: © By James Jiao – stock.adobe.com

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