What is Ofsted and and how will the new school ratings work?

One or two-word Ofsted judgements for schools in England have been scrapped.

The change follows an inquest into head teacher Ruth Perry's suicide, which concluded that a critical Ofsted inspection "contributed" to her death.

What does Ofsted mean and what are the ratings?

Ofsted - the Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills - inspects and reports on anywhere that provides education for young people in England, including schools, colleges, nurseries and childminders.

Many parents and carers rely on Ofsted ratings to help them choose a school or nursery for their child.

Previously, schools or organisations were inspected every four years - or within 30 months, depending on their status - and were given one of the following four overall grades:

• 1 - outstanding

• 2 - good

• 3 - requires improvement

• 4 - inadequate

Ofsted also inspects some independent schools in England, while others are assessed by the Independent Schools Inspectorate.

Inspections in Wales are carried out by Estyn, in Scotland by Education Scotland, and in Northern Ireland by the Education and Training Inspectorate.

How and why are the ratings changing?

Ofsted inspections will no longer give a single overall grade to an institution.

For the 2024-2025 academic year, inspectors will still apply one of the existing four grades to the individual sub-categories they assess:

• a school's overall performance

• the quality of education provided

• pupil behaviour and attitudes

• staff personal development and the calibre of leadership and management

• the effectiveness of safeguarding policies

From September 2025, after a consultation, a new "report card" will come into effect. The frequency of future inspections will also be determined by the consultation.

The changes are partly in response to the wave of criticism that the rating system received after Ruth Perry's death in January 2023.

The coroner who investigated her death highlighted concerns that one-word judgements meant the same grading of "inadequate" could be given to a school which "is dreadful in all respects", and to another which is good but with issues which could have been remedied by the time the Ofsted report was published.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has denied that the new system lacks the simplicity of the old one, and said it would provide parents with a "richer picture" of what a school does well, and where it requires improvement.

Estyn in Wales and the body which inspects Church of England schools and academies have both already moved away from a single grade approach.

• Ofsted complacent after head's death, says review

• 'I couldn't handle the shame': Teachers' dread at Ofsted reports

What happens during an Ofsted inspection?

During an Ofsted visit - which can last up to two days - inspectors observe lessons and talk to staff and pupils. Parents are also invited to comment.

The school is normally notified the day before.

Schools can request to defer or cancel a visit, but only in exceptional circumstances.

Ofsted is piloting an idea to improve consistency by doing all inspections on a Tuesday and Wednesday, giving notice for them on a Monday.

Inspectors judge schools according to Ofsted's education inspection framework.

The regulator is consulting on creating new frameworks tailored to schools, colleges and early years providers, which would also come into effect from September 2025.

It wants to make "inclusion" a separate element of inspections, so that reports set out how well providers support vulnerable children - such as those who are disadvantaged or who have special educational needs or disabilities.

What happens after an Ofsted inspection?

Up until now, schools that are rated inadequate have become sponsored academies, and are supported by another outstanding school or charity to improve.

Scrapping the one or two-word rating will not really change this. Ofsted says the Department for Education will still intervene where schools are failing.

But under a new pilot from September 2024, if inspectors have concerns about the safety of children in a school that is performing well in all other respects, they will withhold their judgement for three months to allow time for improvements to be made.

Can schools complain about their Ofsted rating?

Head teachers can challenge the rating their school is given.

Complaints are dealt with by a senior inspector who was not involved in the original assessment.

The way Ofsted handles the post-inspection period changed in April 2024, with the aim of resolving complaints more quickly, and increasing transparency around decision-making.