Understanding Ofsted ratings and report cards

Ofsted inspects state schools in England. The way it reports results has changed twice recently, so schools near you may have different kinds of rating.

1. One-word grade (inspections before September 2024): Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement or Inadequate.
2. No overall grade (September 2024 to November 2025): Ofsted stopped giving a single overall grade but still graded separate areas, such as quality of education and behaviour. Schoolfind shows these as "Not judged".
3. Report card (from November 2025): each area gets its own grade on a five-point scale, with no overall grade. Schoolfind shows each area's grade on the school page.

1. Exceptional
2. Strong standard
3. Expected standard
4. Needs attention
5. Urgent improvement

Safeguarding (keeping children safe) is reported separately as met or not met.

• Inclusion
• Curriculum and teaching
• Achievement
• Attendance and behaviour
• Personal development and well-being
• Leadership and governance
• Early years (if the school has a nursery or Reception)
• Sixth form (if the school has one)

1. Check the inspection date. A grade from 2014 says little about the school today. Many Outstanding schools went years without a full inspection.
2. Read the report, not just the grade. Click "Read the full Ofsted report" on any Schoolfind school page. The first page is a short summary written for parents.
3. Look at the areas that matter to you. For example, inclusion if your child has special educational needs, or behaviour if that's your worry.
4. Look at what changed. A school that moved from Requires improvement to Good, or has a new headteacher, may be different from its old report.
5. Visit. The report covers a couple of days. An open day shows you the school as it is now.