Ofsted to scrap single-word school ratings, says Labour

Single-headline Ofsted grades for schools will be scrapped with immediate effect, the government has announced.

- JORDAN REYNOLDS

Previously, Ofsted awarded one of four headline grades to schools it inspects: outstanding, good, requires improvement and inadequate.

For inspections this academic year, parents will see four grades across the existing sub-categories: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development and leadership and management, the Department for Education (DfE) said.

School report cards will be introduced from September 2025, which will “provide parents with a full and comprehensive assessment of how schools are performing and ensure that inspections are more effective in driving improvement”, it added.

It is understood the removal of single-headline grades for other settings inspected by Ofsted – independent schools, early years settings, colleges, children’s social care providers and initial teacher training – will follow.

Single-phrase grades “fail to provide a fair and accurate assessment of overall school performance across a range of areas and are supported by a minority of parents and teachers”, the DfE said.

The change “delivers on the Government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity”, the DfE added.