The final word on Ofsted ratings

Single-term school reviews are scrapped amid overhaul

- SOPHIE HUSKISSON

ONE-word ratings used by school regulator Ofsted have been scrapped.

Teachers and parents have welcomed Labour's decision, which is being announced today.

Inspectors will instead give grades in four existing categories: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management.

It paves the way for report cards, which will be introduced from September 2025 and are designed to give parents a full picture of how schools are doing.

For years, Ofsted has awarded one of four headline grades to schools it inspects: outstanding, good, requires improvement, or inadequate. Teachers wanted the system to be replaced as they said it created a toxic environment for staff.