How will new Ofsted school ratings work?

The Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills (Ofsted) is introducing a new school rating system to provide more detailed information about the quality of education provided by schools in England.

Under the new system, schools will be rated on a four-point scale: outstanding, good, requires improvement, and inadequate. This replaces the previous system which used a five-point scale.

The new ratings will be based on a range of factors, including the quality of teaching, leadership and management, pupil outcomes, and personal development, behaviour, and welfare.

Schools will also be assessed on the extent to which they provide a broad and balanced curriculum, promote British values, and prepare pupils for life in modern Britain.

Ofsted will use a combination of inspections, school data, and feedback from parents, pupils, and staff to determine a school’s rating.

The aim of the new system is to provide more transparent and accurate information about the quality of education in schools, enabling parents and policymakers to make more informed decisions about where children should be educated.

Schools that receive a rating of requires improvement or inadequate will be subject to more frequent inspections and monitoring to support them in making the necessary improvements.

Educational professionals have welcomed the new system, believing that it will help to raise standards and ensure that all children receive a high-quality education.

However, some critics have raised concerns about the potential for the new ratings to create additional pressure on schools and teachers, and to unfairly stigmatise those that are struggling.

In conclusion, the new Ofsted school ratings system is intended to provide a more accurate and comprehensive assessment of the quality of education in schools, with the ultimate goal of driving improvements and raising standards across the board.