Ofsted has redesigned the inspection framework to give families a clearer, more detailed understanding of school performance. Instead of one overall grade, the new Report Card highlights how well a school is doing in several key areas.
New Ofsted framework - a guide for parents and carers
Posted 4th March 2026
Ofsted introduced a new inspection framework in November 2025, bringing significant changes to how inspection outcomes are shared with families.
Under this new system, schools no longer receive a single overall grade. Instead, they are given a detailed Report Card, which sets out how they are performing across several key areas of school life.
The new approach aims to provide families with a clearer, more informative picture of a school’s strengths and the areas it is continuing to develop.
Report Cards
The report cards will give a detailed overview of how the school is performing in each of the following areas.
- Attendance and behaviour
- Achievement
- Curriculum and teaching
- Inclusion
- Personal development and wellbeing
- Leadership and Governance
- Early Years (where applicable)
- Sixth Form (where applicable)
Each area will be given a grading, using the following new system which has a corresponding colour for each grade:
| Expected standard | This represents a high standard where children are receiving everything they need and deserve. It means the provision in that area is strong and there are no significant weaknesses. |
|---|---|
| Strong standard | Excellent and consistently strong practice that goes beyond the expected standard. |
| Exceptional | Practice that is among the very best nationally. Only a small number of schools are expected to achieve this. |
| Needs attention | Some aspects require further development. This highlights areas where the school is continuing to strengthen its work. |
| Urgent improvement | Significant weaknesses that require immediate action. |
Schools may receive a range of grades across the different areas inspected.
Inspectors now look for clear evidence that the full standard has been met before awarding a grade. In the past, a school might receive a grade if most of the criteria were met. Under the new approach, a school may be very close to the next standard but still need to strengthen one or two aspects of its work before that grade is awarded.
It is also important to note that the new grades cannot be directly compared with previous Ofsted judgements. This is because Ofsted is using a different inspection framework and a new way of assessing and reporting outcomes.
Safeguarding
Outside of this grading system, the report card will also tell you whether safeguarding responsibilities are ‘met’ or ‘not met’.
Frequently asked questions
Not necessarily. Schools may receive a range of outcomes across different areas of the Report Card. This reflects the fact that schools may have particular strengths in some areas while continuing to develop others.
Ofsted has made it clear that the new inspection framework cannot be compared directly with the previous one. As a result, it is not possible to draw meaningful comparisons between past inspection grades and those awarded under the new framework. This is because both the areas inspected and the methods used to evaluate them have changed.
Yes. Ofsted has stated that the expected standard represents a high benchmark. It means the school is providing the quality of education and support that pupils should receive. Most schools are expected to meet this standard. Schools will then continue to strengthen their practice as they work towards the strong standard.
This means inspectors have identified one or more areas where further development is needed to reach the expected standard. Schools will focus on improving that area and Ofsted will review progress in a follow-up visit which will concentrate on these areas and the grading maybe reviewed if improvements are seen.
Yes. Alongside the Report Card, Ofsted will publish a written report which explains what inspectors found during the inspection and what it is like to be a pupil at the school.