Ofsted to introduce new school ratings system in November in spite of opposition

England's schools watchdog, Ofsted, is to press ahead with the introduction of its new inspection regime in November, including a colour-coded report card for parents, despite widespread opposition from headteachers and unions.

- Sally Weale

An "exceptional" judgment will become the highest of five grades to be awarded across six inspection areas as part of the overhaul, which was prompted by the suicide of the Reading headteacher Ruth Perry after a visit by Ofsted.

However, teaching unions and school leaders warned that the new inspection framework with its "Nando's-style" scorecard was "even worse" than the current regime and would do nothing to ease the stress sustained by headteachers and staff.

Ruth Perry's sister, Prof Julia Waters, described the reforms as "an overcomplicated mishmash" and called on the education secretary, Bridget Phillipson, to halt the roll-out.

"This is not a new system," she said. "This is a cosmetic rebranding, tweaking and expansion of the same unreliable and punishing system as the one before. It still includes many of the risks that teachers and headteachers fear, without significant benefits or safeguards."