Mariam Karim
‘Outstanding; Good; Satisfactory; Requires Improvement,’ are familiar labels responsible for shaping the landscape of educational standards in the UK. However, the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills (Ofsted) is turning a new page, replacing these terms with an alternative grading system for academic institutions starting in September 2025.
The decision to scrap one-word grading, announced this month, follows mounting criticism of the current system, particularly after the tragic case of Ruth Perry, a headteacher who took her own life when Ofsted downgraded her school from “Outstanding” to “Requires Improvement.” Her death sparked a national debate, calling into question the effectiveness and emotional toll of Ofsted’s inspections. Critics argue that a single-word judgment puts immense pressure on schools and staff, failing to capture the full picture of a school’s performance.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson acknowledged these concerns when unveiling the reform: “The need for Ofsted reform to drive high and rising standards for all our children in every school is overwhelmingly clear. The removal of headline grades is a generational reform and a landmark moment for children, parents, and teachers.”
Instead of these broad labels, schools will now receive more detailed reports. These reports will continue to assess key areas, including the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. The goal of changing the grading system is to give parents and stakeholders a clearer, more transparent understanding of how schools perform across various factors, rather than simplifying it into a single word.
While the change is being hailed as a step in the right direction, it is only one part of a larger conversation surrounding Ofsted’s role in education. Daniel Kebede, General Secretary of the National Education Union, welcomed the move but also recognised the need for further improvements. “It is an important first step, but there is much more work to be done around Ofsted.” He also acknowledged another key issue with Ofsted, claiming that it is “an inspectorate that does not have the trust of the profession.” Kebede’s concerns reflect a broader critique of the system.
In 2018, the National Audit Office revealed that Ofsted itself lacked evidence to show “whether its school inspections are having the intended impact,” raising doubts about the agency’s ability to improve education in the way it was intended to when it was founded in 1992.
This reform aligns with a key promise from Keir Starmer’s 2024 election manifesto, which included plans to reform the Ofsted grading system. Now in office, the Labour government is fulfilling that pledge, aiming to reshape how schools are evaluated across the UK. As the new system is implemented, it will be closely observed by teachers, parents, and education experts to assess its impact on schools.
The question moving forward is how this change will influence the broader educational landscape and whether it will reduce the pressure on schools while offering parents a more comprehensive view of school performance. While it is too early to determine the full effects, moving away from headline grades signals a notable shift in how school inspections will function and how educational quality is understood.
**Photo:** Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, seen with Prime Minister Keir Starmer, addressed concerns about the reforms to Ofsted inspections, following the tragic case of Ruth Perry (inset), a headteacher who took her life after her school’s rating was downgraded from “Outstanding” to “Requires Improvement.”
(Credit: Flickr Commons)
