Ofsted’s new report card grading system for schools in England has officially come into force as of November 2025, marking a significant shift in how educational institutions are evaluated and held accountable. The move, which replaces the previous one- or two-word judgements with more nuanced, multi-area assessments, has drawn a mixture of praise, concern, and outright opposition from various corners of the education sector. While the government and Ofsted tout the changes as a step forward for transparency and parental engagement, critics warn that core issues remain unresolved, particularly regarding the pressure placed on teachers and school leaders.
For decades, Ofsted—the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills—has played a central role in shaping the educational landscape of England. Parents have long relied on its ratings to help make decisions about where to send their children, whether to state schools, nurseries, or independent institutions. Previously, schools were inspected every four years or, in some cases, within 30 months, and were assigned one of four overall grades: outstanding, good, requires improvement, or inadequate. This system, while clear and easy to digest, often left little room for nuance or context.
But as of this month, the old system is out. England’s new approach, introduced after a period of consultation and controversy, now provides a detailed report card for each inspected institution. Instead of a single headline grade, schools are assessed across several key areas: curriculum and teaching, achievement, inclusion, leadership and governance, personal development and wellbeing, attendance and behaviour, and, where applicable, early years and post-16 provision. Each area receives one of five possible grades: urgent improvement, attention needed, expected standard, strong standard, or exceptional. Additionally, a separate section of the report card addresses whether the school’s safeguarding duties have been met.
The impetus for change was, in large part, the tragic death of head teacher Ruth Perry in January 2023. Perry took her own life following an Ofsted inspection that resulted in her school being downgraded—a story that sent shockwaves through the education community and prompted a national debate about the impact of inspection regimes on the mental health and wellbeing of school staff. Perry’s sister, Professor Julia Waters, led a campaign to overhaul the system, arguing that the stress and stigma associated with negative Ofsted judgements could be devastating.
Responding to the outcry, Ofsted announced in 2024 that it would eliminate the old single-word judgements, replacing them with the new report cards. The changes were subject to a consultation period, but not everyone was satisfied with the outcome. In September 2025, just weeks before the new system was set to launch, Professor Waters and other critics claimed the reforms had “failed to learn the lessons” from Perry’s death and continued to pose a “risk to the health and wellbeing of teachers and school leaders.” The National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) mounted a legal challenge against the new grading framework, but the High Court dismissed the case one week before implementation. The union has since indicated it will consult members on possible strike action.
Despite the controversy, Ofsted’s chief inspector, Sir Martyn Oliver, defended the new system, stating after the court ruling that it would be “better for parents” and “fair” to schools as well. According to the BBC, Oliver emphasized that the new report cards would offer more detailed, actionable feedback for parents and educators alike, aiming to raise standards for children without reducing schools to a single label.
The government, for its part, has promised that the changes will lead to more targeted support for struggling schools. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson announced the formation of new regional teams with budgets of up to £100,000 per school, designed to intervene quickly when schools receive back-to-back negative judgements from Ofsted. If a school fails to improve even after this support, it will be transferred to a successful academy trust, regardless of whether it is currently run by a different academy or a local council. “We want to make sure no school is left behind,” Phillipson stated, according to BBC coverage.
Schools can still challenge their Ofsted ratings—a process that was updated in April 2024 to be more transparent and efficient. Complaints are reviewed by a senior inspector who was not involved in the original assessment, a measure intended to boost confidence in the fairness of the process.
The new system is already having real-world consequences. Take, for example, Wendy House Nursery in Carlisle, which was inspected by Ofsted in September and received a ‘requires improvement’ rating across all four inspected aspects: quality of education, behaviour, personal development, and leadership. Inspectors expressed concerns about the nursery’s promotion of children’s nutritional needs and oral health, inconsistent communication with parents, and limited daily access to outdoor areas. Staffing challenges were also noted, with junior staff not always receiving adequate support from experienced teachers.
Despite these setbacks, the nursery was praised for its work with children who have special educational needs and disabilities, helping them manage self-care and collaborating with other agencies. In response to the report, the nursery stated it had taken “immediate and effective steps” to address the concerns and remained committed to children’s safety, learning, and wellbeing. “Our management team has taken an increasingly hands-on role within the rooms to ensure the children continue to receive the highest standard of care and attention, which has at times reduced the amount of time available for paperwork,” a spokesperson told BBC News.
Not all regions under Ofsted’s umbrella are following England’s lead. In Guernsey, for instance, authorities have opted to stick with the traditional grading approach. Education President Paul Montague told BBC Guernsey, “We have our own relationship with Ofsted, we determine how the inspections are done. We are not directly following what the UK have done just yet.” The States of Guernsey signed a new contract with Ofsted in June 2025, ensuring that local schools will continue to be inspected under the existing system for another four years.
Elsewhere in the UK, Wales’ Estyn and the Church of England’s own inspectorate have also moved away from single-grade judgements, reflecting a broader trend toward more nuanced assessments. However, Scotland and Northern Ireland continue to use their own inspection frameworks, each with its own set of rules and standards.
As the dust settles on Ofsted’s overhaul, the debate about how best to assess and support schools is far from over. While the new report cards promise greater detail and, perhaps, a more compassionate approach, many educators and parents remain watchful—hoping that the system will truly serve the interests of children, without sacrificing the wellbeing of those who teach and care for them.
