Are Ofsted results accurate?
In collaboration with Tes Magazine, we hosted a webinar this October exploring whether Ofsted’s new inspection system is fit for purpose. Tes Magazine news editor Charlotte Santry chaired a discussion with Manny Botwe, headteacher and past president of ASCL, and trust leaders Cathie Paine and Jonny Uttley.
The panellists discussed their concerns about the new framework, including fears it may result in inaccurate gradings. But how can you make sure you’re prepared for the new inspections?
Understanding Ofsted results
As of September 2025, Ofsted has reformed their inspection framework. Ofsted results previously saw a school graded as either outstanding, good, requires improvement, or inadequate. However, the new Ofsted report card will scrap single-word judgements, with the acknowledgement that one word cannot provide a full and accurate picture of a school.
As such, a school’s Ofsted results will now be based on the assessment of up to nine areas, with each area being marked as exceptional, strong standard, expected standard, needs attention, or urgent improvement. The intention behind the new framework is that Ofsted results will be more nuanced, detailed, and provide a more accurate picture of a setting.
Are the new Ofsted results accurate?
Ofsted’s new reforms mean schools will be assessed in several areas, with each being awarded one of five possible grades.
In the webinar discussion, CEO of REAch2 Academy Trust, Cathie Paine said that while more detailed judgement is in many ways an upside, it also increases the risk of inconsistencies between inspectors. She pointed out that there is always a risk of inconsistency with such a complex and large-scale system, as well as highlighting a lack of clarity in Ofsted’s guidance: “when you’ve got words like ‘broadly’ and ‘typically’ within the grade judgements, what does that actually mean?”
Jonny Uttley, CEO of The Education Alliance Multi-Academy Trust, also pointed out the subjectivity of Ofsted’s language, and argued that with inspections lasting just two days, it’s hard to see how so many different areas of inspection can reliably be looked at in such detail.
What does this mean for my school?
The new Ofsted framework is in place from November 2025, so it may take some time for us to get a big picture understanding of what it looks like in practice.
While you may not be sure what to expect yet – or exactly how accurate Ofsted results will be – it’s important to focus on what you can do. That means making sure that your school is prepared for an inspection.
How can my school prepare for Ofsted inspection?
A key difference in the new framework is an increased focus on inclusion and safeguarding, with safeguarding being assessed differently to other areas.
Being prepared means you’re following best practice across your school – which is important regardless of inspections and Ofsted results – and that you can evidence compliance where needed.
Inclusion
A significant change in the new framework is that schools will now be graded on inclusion. Provision for disadvantaged children, those with a special educational need or disability (SEND), and those who are known to social care will be assessed.
The journey to becoming an inclusive school requires commitment from leadership as well as class teachers, and it doesn’t happen overnight. It's key that all students get the support they need and feel welcomed and safe at school.
This should be implemented at both a classroom and school-wide level. In the classroom, for example, this may mean using differentiation to give all students an equal opportunity to learn. At a whole school level, you might do this by making inclusion and respect central to your setting’s values and ethos.
Safeguarding
Safeguarding is more important than ever as the online world introduces an increasing number of risks. In Ofsted’s new reforms, safeguarding won’t receive a grade like other areas, it will simply be assessed by whether requirements 'met' or ‘not met’.
A headteacher who partook in a pilot inspection reported in Tes Magazine that “either children are safe or they’re not” – as such, it makes sense for the new framework to provide a simple yes or no answer when it comes to safeguarding.
Where there are minor safeguarding issues that inspectors believe can be resolved in less than three months, inspectors can suspend an inspection to give schools the chance to resolve them – provided that is the school’s only issue.
The new grading system makes it more important than ever for you to ensure your safeguarding practices and systems are comprehensive and compliant. Having a big-picture view of safeguarding concerns and cases means staff get the context they need to understand risks and keep students safer.
Streamlining processes and evidencing compliance
The right platform makes it easier for you to meet students’ needs and keep them safe in an effective and more holistic way.
It's important you have the right tools for the job – with safeguarding, for example, it’s helpful to keep reports in one place where you can record concerns and evidence compliance; for SEND provision, being able to plan and track support efficiently is key.
It’s also essential that staff members can access the information they need. Staff need context to understand the significance of certain risks or reported concerns. Keeping documentation in one centralised place is key, and the right software makes this even easier.
With Tes' specialist education software, you can do more in less time:
-
MyConcern enables staff to safeguard all your students with consideration of context and the bigger picture, and evidence compliance
-
Provision Map supports SENCOs and school leaders to plan for and meet the needs of students with SEND
-
Class Charts supports teachers to manage behaviour effectively, so they can focus on teaching
Be Ofsted ready with Tes Spark
Get ready before your inspection is scheduled with Tes Spark, our bundle of MyConcern, Provision Map and Class Charts. Spark gives you all you need to manage behaviour, safeguarding and SEND provision effectively and comprehensively, keeping everything in one place and saving you time.
Don't wait – prepare your school today.