OFSTED
Please find below our most recent Ofsted report and relevant information from the Department for Education Performance Tables.
What’s changed?
Previously, schools received a single overall judgement such as Outstanding, Good, or Requires Improvement. Under the new framework, this approach has been replaced with report cards that break down performance into key areas that Ofsted says matter most to families:
- Inclusion (how well the school meets the needs of all children)
- Curriculum and Teaching
- Achievement
- Attendance and Behaviour
- Personal Development and Well-being
- Early Years
- Leadership and Governance
Safeguarding will also be clearly marked as ‘Met’ or ‘Not Met’.
New grading scale
- Exceptional – among the very best nationally, practice to share.
- Strong Standard – excellent, consistent work making a real difference.
- Expected Standard – everything the school should be doing to meet high expectations.
- Needs Attention – areas where work is underway but impact isn’t yet visible.
- Urgent Improvement – significant changes needed.
Why can’t it be compared to the old system?
Previously, schools were assigned a single overall grade. The updated system, however, offers a multi-dimensional perspective, highlighting both strengths and areas for improvement within the same school. As a result, a school might be at the Expected Standard in one aspect but Needs Attention in another, giving parents a clearer sense of their children's experience at the school. Since the new grading method and criteria differ entirely from the old system, Ofsted says that previous judgements such as Good or Outstanding cannot be directly mapped onto the new categories and grades.
National priorities
There is a strong nationwide focus on inclusion, ensuring every child’s needs are met and a renewed emphasis on attendance, recognising its vital role in achievement and wellbeing. These priorities are already central to our work.
