12 Sep Changes to the Ofsted grading system – what next?

Recent changes to the Ofsted grading system, which have been making headlines, represent a significant shift in how schools in England are inspected. Previously, Ofsted inspections resulted in single-word headline judgements such as “outstanding,” “good,” “requires improvement,” or “inadequate.” However, as of September 2025, these one-word overall ratings will be replaced by more detailed school report cards.

This reform aims to provide a fuller, more nuanced picture of school performance across various areas, including inclusion, education quality, leadership, and personal development, rather than reducing a school’s success or challenges to a single word. The government has said these new report cards will help establish a “much clearer, much broader picture of how schools are performing” for parents, while lowering the stakes of inspection for schools.

The shift follows criticism from parents, teachers and educators, and school leaders, who argued that single-word judgements were reductive and caused undue stress on schools, sometimes with serious consequences. The tragic case of headteacher Ruth Perry, who took her life after her school’s downgrade from “outstanding” to “inadequate,” underscored the emotional toll of these simplified ratings.

During the transition period, schools will still be rated in the current four sub-categories, but there will be no overarching one-word grade. The report cards are expected to offer parents clearer insights into a school’s strengths and areas for improvement, and to foster more meaningful support for schools that are struggling. Regional Improvement Teams will also be introduced from 2025 to help schools that are identified as underperforming, replacing the current approach of enforced structural changes, such as academisation​.

The removal of single-word judgements marks a major turning point in school inspections in the UK – something that feels like it has been a long time coming. As teachers ourselves at Moore Teachers, we know all too well the pressures associated with Ofsted, and we welcome the changes with hope and optimism that these reforms will be beneficial to all stakeholders within the education sector.

With the health and wellbeing of teachers, school leaders and support staff often being a core discussion alongside conversations about the stresses that are inevitably a part of the inspection process, we at Moore Teachers find that we are speaking to more and more school staff who are leaving the profession as a result of poor mental health. Fortunately, many teachers that contact us are excited about the prospect of doing the job they love but with the flexibility and work/life balance that so many of us have craved.

Working on supply with Moore Teachers means a choice of roles, schools, and year groups, as well as choosing full or part-time roles. Teaching on your own terms. Regaining control of your life again. Give Moore Teachers a call on 01992 611902 or email tina@mooreteachers.co.uk to have a chat with one of the team about how working on supply as a teacher, teaching and learning support assistant or early years practitioner could benefit you.

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