"Pupils are extremely happy and feel valued in the school. They demonstrate the school’s caring ethos through their kind and thoughtful behaviour."

 

Ofsted 2024

 

Understanding Ofsted’s New School Inspection Grades

A simple guide for parents and carers

Ofsted introduced a new way of inspecting and grading schools in November 2025. The changes are designed to give parents and carers a clearer picture of how well schools are doing, including what they do well and where they could improve.

What has changed?

Previously, Ofsted gave schools one overall judgement, such as Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement or Inadequate.

Under the new system, schools receive a report card showing how they are performing in different areas, rather than one overall grade.

What do the new grades mean?

There are five possible grades:

• Exceptional – The school is performing at an exceptionally high level in this area.

• Strong Standard – The school is doing particularly well and going beyond what is expected.

• Expected Standard – The school is providing an effective education and meeting Ofsted’s expectations.

• Needs Attention – Some improvements are needed in this area, but this does not mean the school is failing.

• Urgent Improvement – Significant improvements are needed to address serious concerns.

What does 'Expected Standard' mean for my child's school?

Expected Standard is a positive outcome. It means the school is doing what it should be doing and providing an effective education for its pupils.

Ofsted expects most schools to achieve this grade because the new inspection framework sets high standards.

Some schools may achieve Strong Standard in particular areas, while Exceptional is expected to be awarded only rarely.

Can I compare the new grades with previous Ofsted ratings?

No. The new grades are not directly comparable with the old ones.

For example, a school previously rated Good may now receive Expected Standard. This does not mean the school has become less effective.

In fact, a school may have improved since its last inspection, but the new framework has higher expectations and assesses schools differently.

Similarly, Needs Attention does not mean the same as the previous Requires Improvement judgement.

What happens if a school receives 'Needs Attention'?

A Needs Attention grade highlights an area where a school should make improvements.

It does not mean the school has failed its inspection. Instead, it helps schools identify and address concerns early, before they become more serious.

When will schools be inspected?

Schools will generally be inspected within four to five years of their previous inspection.

Our commitment to children and families

We remain confident that our schools are well placed to meet the expectations of the new Ofsted framework and continue providing high-quality education.

We hope this information helps parents and carers understand what the new grades mean and how to read their child's school inspection report.

Find out more

For further information, visit the official Ofsted guidance:

Understanding Ofsted report cards and grades – GOV.UK

Please find below our most recent Inspection reports: