The way schools in England are inspected and rated has changed. Ofsted — the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills — has replaced its traditional one-word judgements with a new, more detailed “report card” system. The aim, according to Ofsted and the government, is to give parents better information and help raise standards for children. But critics argue that many of the old problems remain.
What Is Ofsted?
Ofsted is the body that inspects and regulates services providing education and care for young people in England. This includes schools, nurseries, colleges, and childminders. Parents often use Ofsted ratings when deciding where to send their children.
Until now, schools received one of four overall grades after inspection:
- Outstanding
- Good
- Requires improvement
- Inadequate
Inspections usually took place every four years, although some schools were visited more frequently depending on their status.
How Have Inspections Changed?
Under the new system, introduced in November 2025, Ofsted no longer gives schools a single overall grade. Instead, each school receives a report card showing how it performs across several key areas of school life.
These areas include:
- Curriculum and teaching
- Achievement
- Inclusion
- Leadership and governance
- Personal development and wellbeing
- Attendance and behaviour
- Early years and post-16 provision (where relevant)
Each category is rated on a five-point scale:
- Exceptional
- Strong standard
- Expected standard
- Attention needed
- Urgent improvement
A separate section confirms whether a school meets its safeguarding duties.
The new reports also include short written summaries explaining why a school received each grade, allowing parents to see more detail than before.
Why Did Ofsted Change Its System?
The reform follows the death of head teacher Ruth Perry in January 2023, who took her own life after her school was downgraded by Ofsted. Her death led to widespread public concern about the emotional toll inspections can have on school leaders.
Campaigners — including Mrs Perry’s sister, Professor Julia Waters — urged Ofsted to abandon its one-word grades, arguing they oversimplified complex schools and caused unnecessary stress.
In 2024, Ofsted agreed to scrap the overall judgement system. After a consultation period, the new “report card” model was confirmed in 2025.
Why Is the New System Controversial?
Despite the changes, some education unions and campaigners remain critical. The National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) challenged the reforms in court, claiming they still place damaging pressure on school staff. The High Court dismissed the case in October 2025, but the union says it will continue to consult members on possible strike action.
Critics argue that although the new format provides more information, it still encourages comparisons and rankings. Professor Waters said Ofsted had “failed to learn the lessons” from her sister’s death, warning that inspections still pose “a risk to the health and wellbeing of teachers and school leaders.”
What Ofsted Says
Ofsted’s chief inspector, Sir Martyn Oliver, insists the new approach is “better for parents” and “fair to schools.”
He said the detailed report cards will help parents understand a school’s strengths and weaknesses without reducing its performance to a single word.
The Bottom Line
Ofsted’s new rating system marks one of the biggest changes in school inspections for years. Supporters believe it will give parents clearer insight and schools a fairer assessment. Opponents fear it may not go far enough to reduce pressure on teachers and improve wellbeing.
For now, England’s schools are adjusting to a new era of inspections — one that promises more transparency, but still divides opinion.