NEWS: New Ofsted School Grading System Now in Effect for English Schools

Ofsted’s new report card system has come into force in England, replacing the old one or two-word judgements that labelled schools as outstanding or inadequate

As reported by the BBC, the new approach, introduced in November 2025, gives schools separate grades for different areas of performance, with narrative summaries providing more detailed feedback. Ofsted says this will give parents clearer information and help teachers target improvements more effectively.

Schools will now be assessed on areas such as curriculum and teaching, achievement, wellbeing, behaviour, inclusion, leadership, and early years or post-16 provision where relevant. Each category will be rated as exceptional, strong standard, expected standard, attention needed, or urgent improvement. A separate section will confirm whether safeguarding duties are being met.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said the new report cards will allow earlier government intervention where schools are struggling. Regional teams with budgets of up to £100,000 per school will support those receiving repeated negative Ofsted reports.

Ministers say the reforms will raise standards and offer a fairer, more detailed picture of performance. But critics argue the changes do little to ease pressure on teachers and school leaders, warning that key problems from the old system remain.

Previously, schools were inspected every four years or within 30 months depending on their status and received one of four overall grades: outstanding, good, requires improvement or inadequate. Under the new system, Ofsted will no longer issue a single overall rating.