One-word Ofsted school ratings scrapped

The government has announced that one-word Ofsted inspection ratings of state schools will no longer be published in new reports from September 2024. 

The one-word judgements – outstanding, good, requiring improvement or inadequate – will not be added to new reports.

This means parents will not be able to get a summary snapshot of the school's overall performanve after a visit by inspectors.

A new system is currently being designed that will include school “report cards” and this will be introduced from the start of the academic year 2025, according to reports. 

The ban on one-word ratings follows pressure from teaching unions. Unions lobbyed for the change following the death of head teacher Ruth Perry after her primary school was downgraded by Ofsted inspectors.