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Removal of Ofsted high-stakes state school ratings: what it means for parents
The four headline ratings awarded by Ofsted in England since the 2005/06 academic year (outstanding, good, requires improvement and inadequate) have been scrapped. Used by parents to help them choose a school or nursery for their child in London, they had become a blunt tool, forcing the state school inspections watchdog to have a rethink.
What you’ll learn in this quick guide
- Why Ofsted scrapped its single judgement system.
- How the new Ofsted rating system works.
- What happens if schools are underperforming under the new system.
What was wrong with the old Ofsted rating system?
A 2023 academic paper on Ofsted judgments and secondary school choice advised parents “not to place too much emphasis on them”. These rigid one or two-word ratings failed to consider the dynamic nature and complexity of state schools.
According to the paper, Ofsted reports were on average three years old when parents made their choices. In that time head teachers, and subsequently cultures, often change, absentee rates fluctuate, and exam results vary – all of which impacts parental satisfaction.
In September 2024, the Labour government announced that these high-stakes single judgments would be replaced immediately.
How are state schools ratings changing?
Ofsted will continue to inspect state schools against the same four standards; however, ratings will only be issued for individual aspects of a school’s performance. Inspectors will now assess four new sub-categories and apply one of the existing four ratings to each:
- Quality of education
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Personal development
- Leadership and management
The changes to the Ofsted inspection system for the 2024-2025 academic year aim to improve standards and help parents better understand schools’ strengths and weaknesses – now and in the future. State schools in London will retain the overall grade they received under the old system until their next inspection when the new ratings will be applied.
From September 2025, report cards will be introduced that provide parents with a comprehensive assessment of how state schools are performing. A formal consultation on the design and content of these report cards is planned for January 2025. This will also determine the frequency of future inspections.
Not only will this help parents to make more informed decisions when selecting schools, it will ensure inspections are more effective in driving improvement.
The consultation process will allow stakeholders – from parents and teachers to unions and local authorities – to provide feedback on the proposed evaluation areas and rating scales. Following the consultation, Ofsted plans to pilot the new inspection framework with full implementation scheduled for September 2025.
What happens after the inspection of a state school under the new system?
Poorly performing state schools will still be subject to government intervention, in a bid to deliver high standards of education for children in England. Schools that are flagged as struggling will experience direct intervention, rather than just making management changes. New regional improvement teams will be established whose job it is to work with schools to address areas of weakness.
For schools with serious issues – those that would have been rated inadequate under the old Ofsted system – the government will still issue academy orders, which could result in management changes.
However, it will cease directly intervening in schools which under the previous system were given two or more consecutive “requires improvement” ratings. Instead, they will receive more support from a high-performing school.
FAQs
When does the new Ofsted rating system come into effect?
As of September 2024, Ofsted has discontinued single-word overall judgments for state schools in England. The new Ofsted rating system is being introduced in the 2024-2025 academic year, with results produced using report cards from September 2025.
What will Ofsted assess under the new system?
Ofsted will assess four subcategories: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management.
What will the new report cards look like?
The new report cards aim to offer parents a comprehensive overview of school performance across the four subcategories, moving beyond the simplicity of single-word judgments. The development of this system will involve consultations with parents, educators, and other stakeholders to ensure clarity and transparency.
Resources
- Removal of Ofsted single word judgements: what it means for schools and parents
- How useful are Ofsted inspection judgements for informing secondary school choice?
- If you’re searching for schools in London, check out our interactive schools map to find your closest.
Consult with Simply London
Using our knowledge and experience, our education experts provide personalised guidance and support on the school selection and application process. We can help you navigate the new Ofsted rating system so you can choose and apply for schools in your chosen borough that match your requirements. Contact us today to find out more.
Article published 9th January 2025.
