{"id":234357,"date":"2025-09-09T00:01:00","date_gmt":"2025-09-08T23:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/?p=234357"},"modified":"2025-09-09T09:46:23","modified_gmt":"2025-09-09T08:46:23","slug":"ofsted-report-cards-the-8-big-changes-you-need-to-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/ofsted-report-cards-the-8-big-changes-you-need-to-know\/","title":{"rendered":"Ofsted report cards: the 8 big changes you need to know\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Ofsted has<a href=\"https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/fewer-judgements-renamed-grades-ofsted-report-cards-revealed\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"> renamed its controversial five new headline grades<\/a>, reduced the number of core areas for inspection and will enlarge its inspection teams in response to its consultation on planned new report cards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The watchdog has also published a sample report card with narrative judgments and contextual information alongside grades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For the purposes of this round-up, we have focused on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/consultations\/improving-the-way-ofsted-inspects-education\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">things Ofsted is changing as a result of its consultation.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ofsted is also pressing ahead with already-announced plans for all inspections to be full inspections, for increased monitoring activity, a replacement to its current deep dives approach and other measures consulted-on earlier this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s what you need to know\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. &#8216;Confusing\u2019 grades renamed&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Ofsted\u2019s original consultation proposed that schools would be given one of five grades for each judgment area. These were going to be\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>causing concern<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>attention needed<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>secure<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>strong<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>exemplary<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The watchdog has now renamed these grades as follows\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>urgent improvement<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>needs attention<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>expected standard<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>strong standard<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>exceptional<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Ofsted said it had made the changes following \u201cconcerns from professionals and parents about the terminology used to describe grades, such as \u2018secure\u2019 being confusing and \u2018causing concern\u2019 being too harsh on providers\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It comes after <em>Schools Week <\/em>revealed earlier this year that Ofsted was considering renaming the \u2018secure\u2019 grade in proposed new report cards, amid concerns it won\u2019t be clear to families where it sits on the new scale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The watchdog also said it had \u201ctightened the definitions of \u2018expected standard\u2019 and \u2018strong standard\u2019 so the differentiation between both is clearer across all toolkits\u201d.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Schools Week<\/em>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/ofsted-quiz-can-you-spot-a-strong-rating-from-a-secure-one\/\">ran a blind online survey<\/a>&nbsp;asking readers to distinguish between the criteria for the \u201csecure\u201d and \u201cstrong\u201d descriptors. On average, the more than 3,000 respondents got two of the five wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"970\" height=\"624\" src=\"https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-08-at-161134-970x624.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-234361\" srcset=\"https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-08-at-161134-970x624.png 970w, https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-08-at-161134-670x431.png 670w, https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-08-at-161134-768x494.png 768w, https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-08-at-161134-640x412.png 640w, https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-08-at-161134-244x157.png 244w, https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-08-at-161134-347x223.png 347w, https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-08-at-161134-489x315.png 489w, https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-08-at-161134.png 988w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 970px) 100vw, 970px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The top of a report card<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Core inspection areas reduced from eight to six<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The original consultation proposed eight core inspection areas for schools, plus early years and sixth form if applicable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The proposed core areas were:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>inclusion<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>curriculum<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>developing teaching<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>achievement<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>behaviour and attitudes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>attendance<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>personal development and well-being<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>leadership and governance<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Ofsted will now merge \u2018developing teaching\u2019 with \u2018curriculum\u2019 and the \u2018attendance\u2019 judgment will be merged with \u2018behaviour and attitudes\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That means the new list of core areas is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>inclusion<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>curriculum and teaching<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>achievement<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>attendance and behaviour<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>personal development and wellbeing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>leadership and governance<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>As originally proposed, safeguarding will be judged separately, as either \u201cmet\u201d or \u201cnot met\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. School context \u2018narrative\u2019 to run alongside grades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Ofsted has faced widespread calls from the sector to replace grading with narrative descriptions of schools.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"476\" height=\"739\" src=\"https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-08-at-161159.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-234364\" style=\"width:200px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-08-at-161159.png 476w, https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-08-at-161159-412x640.png 412w, https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-08-at-161159-224x348.png 224w, https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-08-at-161159-347x539.png 347w, https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-08-at-161159-244x379.png 244w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 476px) 100vw, 476px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>It has resisted these calls. But the watchdog said report cards will now have a \u201ccombined approach using both a 5-point scale and a narrative explanation for each grade across all evaluation areas\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A sample report card distributed by the watchdog shows that at the top of the page, visitors will see a colour-coded summary of how many inspection areas have met each grade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Below that, visitors will be able to click on each judgment area to see several paragraphs of narrative verdict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The report cards will also show contextual information about a school, such as whether its pupil numbers, prevalence of SEND and deprivation are above or below average.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Toolkits \u2018tightened up\u2019 after backlash<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Ofsted pledged earlier this year to publish toolkits for each evaluation area to \u201ctake any mystery out of inspection, so providers can be clear about what we will and, importantly, will not look at\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These will \u201corient around the \u2018expected standard\u2019\u201d grade, the watchdog said today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The \u201clikely three most commonly awarded grades\u201d \u2013 \u2018needs attention\u2019, \u2018expected standard\u2019 and \u2018strong standard\u2019 will appear on one page.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then the \u201ctwo extremes\u201d \u2013 \u2018urgent improvement\u2019 and \u2018exceptional\u2019 \u2013 will sit on the following page.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ofsted said the \u2018expected standard\u2019 is in the middle of the page of the toolkit \u201cbecause this is what we would typically expect to see on inspections.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt covers the statutory, professional and non-statutory guidance that providers are already expected to follow.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Meanwhile, the \u2018strong standard\u2019 has \u201ctighter definitions\u201d, and \u201clooks for evidence of practice to be consistent, embedded and highly impactful\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. Exceptional WON\u2019T need an Ofsted Academy submission<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Ofsted had planned to require inspectors to submit examples of \u2018exemplary\u2019 practice to Ofsted Academy, the watchdog\u2019s training and development arm, which would then sign off that a top grade could be awarded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But this plan has been dropped because \u201cmany respondents found this too complex or were worried it would create an additional burden\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cInstead, inspectors will evaluate \u2018exceptional\u2019 practice in the same way as other grades: using their evidence and applying the toolkit during inspection.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ofsted said \u201call the \u2018strong standards\u2019 need to be met\u201d for an \u2018exceptional\u2019 grade to be considered. If they are, inspectors will then look at their evidence against the standards for the top grade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ofsted said \u2018exceptional\u2019 practice needs to be \u201csustained\u201d and \u201cevident over time rather than a recent improvement\u201d and \u201cneeds to have a transformational impact\u201d on the outcomes of disadvantaged youngsters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6. Extra inspector to \u2018ease anxiety for leaders\u2019<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Ofsted said it had \u201cheard concerns raised through the consultation about the additional workload that some feared the revised framework could generate, and the implications for the well-being of the professionals we inspect\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As a result, the watchdog said it was \u201cincreasing inspection capacity for schools\u201d by adding an extra inspector to teams for one day of all full inspections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Having this extra inspector \u201cshould allow the lead inspector more time to focus on engaging with leaders, coordinating their inspection team, and overseeing and quality assuring the inspection\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThis means we can reduce pressure on leaders through the inspection process. The extra inspector will enable lead inspectors and leaders to really collaborate across the inspection, and should ease any anxiety for leaders by acting as a regular point of contact, while allowing the wider inspection team the time to gather evidence to inform their evaluations.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">7. Inspections restart November 10 with volunteer schools<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>School inspections will resume from November 10, Ofsted has confirmed, and said this will give providers \u201cat least a full two months to become familiar with the changes\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When inspections resume, Ofsted will \u201cprioritise volunteers for full inspections in the weeks between November 10 and Christmas\u201d.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These inspections will result in a report card with a \u201ccomplete set of grades\u201d.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ofsted will then return to the normal schedule for state-funded schools, with full inspections every four years, \u201ctowards the end of the period and not before December 1\u201d.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, if there are enough volunteers, \u201cwe will continue to prioritise them after December 1. We will not carry out inspections in the final week before Christmas\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>*Editor\u2019s note: Ofsted publicly discredited a Schools Week story in May that reported the watchdog was considering delaying the roll-out of routine report card inspections. However, the plans today reveal the return of routine inspection has been delayed until at least December 1, and potentially January.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">8. <strong>Ofsted \u2018explore an area\u2019 to provide school context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As well as providing more contextual information on report cards itself, Ofsted will introduce a new service called \u201cOfsted: explore an area\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This \u201cwill bring together data to show what education provision is like in and around a local area\u201d and \u201cexplain how the provider\u2019s performance sits within its local context\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It will replace Ofsted\u2019s Area Insights service in November and be published publicly.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Inspectors will get further training on how to use data as a \u201cstarting point for understanding context\u201d.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The watchdog has also started to develop a \u201csimilar schools\u201d comparison measure to help inspectors and schools \u201cunderstand how schools compare with those in a similar context\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe will discuss with stakeholders and experts whether this measure may be a valuable way of adding more contextual information for inspections. We will ensure that it is consistent with any approach the DfE adopts in this area and work closely together as we develop ours.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Renamed headline grades, fewer inspection areas and bigger teams planned<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":70,"featured_media":234368,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[25],"post-theme":[2378],"class_list":["post-234357","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-ofsted","post-theme-ofsted"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t<!-- All in One SEO Pro 4.9.6.2 - aioseo.com -->\n\t<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Ofsted has renamed its controversial five new headline grades and reduced the number of core areas for inspection for planned new report cards\" 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