Ofsted (Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills) inspects education and skills provisions for learners of all ages, including schools, childminders, training providers, and local authorities. These findings are shared publicly to support review and regulation.
Changes to Ofsted Judgements for Schools in England
As part of changes to the inspection framework, schools in England will no longer receive single-word judgements, also referred to as single headline grades. Instead, inspections will focus on a broader range of performance measures to provide a more detailed understanding of school effectiveness.
Why are single-word judgements being removed?
The decision to remove single-word judgements reflects the need for a more comprehensive view of school performance. This approach aims to support higher educational standards by evaluating schools across multiple areas of focus.
How will school performance be communicated?
Schools with existing single-word judgments – Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, or Inadequate – will retain these until their next inspection. Future inspections will assess schools in the following areas:
- Quality of education
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Personal development
- Leadership and management
These ratings will provide a detailed insight into school performance, enabling comparisons across specific areas.
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