Inspection

The latest news, analysis and opinion on inspections at schools in the UK and overseas, from updates to inspection frameworks and guidance on how to prepare

Yesterday

7th Oct 2026

Scope for negotiation on Ofsted is ‘exhausted’, heads warn
ASCL’s senior members are meeting this week to decide how to take ‘more assertive action’ over inspection concerns
ASCL council is meeting to discuss taking 'more assertive action' over Ofsted.
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Monday

5th Oct 2026

Ofsted puts NPQ and ECTP inspections on hold for another year
The schools watchdog says it is continuing to develop a ‘renewed inspection framework’ for these providers, which have not been inspected since November 2025
A pause button

Sunday

27th Sep 2026

Powell: Ofsted needs ‘much stronger’ focus on school context
The education secretary commits to further reforms to the schools watchdog, and defends Labour’s planned expansion of technical education
Lucy Powell

Friday

25th Sep 2026

Coalition warns Powell over ‘psychological harm’ of Ofsted inspection
A coalition from schools sector urges the education secretary to provide ‘meaningful external accountability’ to Ofsted amid fears about teachers’ and leaders’ wellbeing
A coalition has urged the education secretary to intervene over concerns about Ofsted.

Thursday

24th Sep 2026

Powell: Ofsted regime is ‘high stakes and low trust’
Education secretary says pressure caused by broader accountability system – with Ofsted a ‘core part of that’ – is ‘constantly’ on the government’s mind
Lucy Powell
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Wednesday

23rd Sep 2026

When Ofsted calls, no one should stand alone
Amid ongoing calls to rethink how Ofsted operates, a senior trust leader says it’s vital that school leaders are supported by the wider organisation before, during and after any inspection
Ofsted insptection
Ofsted inspections ‘harming teachers and making them want to quit’
NEU survey of 1,500 members finds that a quarter said recent inspection experience had made them want to leave teaching
An NEU survey has raised concerns about Ofsted inspection's impact on teachers.

Monday

21st Sep 2026

Powell urged to halt ‘demoralising’ Ofsted inspections
The NAHT is launching a campaign to stop graded Ofsted inspections, warning that the latest framework poses a ‘risk to life’
A man holding up a red sign at a road, indicating stop

Friday

11th Sep 2026

High SEND schools 5 times more likely to miss Ofsted inclusion standard
Experts warn of ‘serious flaws’ in the watchdog’s framework and question why schools with higher levels of SEND and disadvantaged pupils are getting lower grades
Pictures of hands
Exclusive

Tuesday

8th Sep 2026

BSO inspectorates prepare for huge workload increase
The removal of Penta, which carried out more than half of British Schools Overseas inspections, puts the two remaining inspectorates under pressure – but they say they are ready
Looking through binoculars

Friday

4th Sep 2026

What has ditching overall Ofsted grades actually changed?
Two years on from the decision to scrap headline Ofsted inspection judgements, Tes examines what difference this has made to schools and leaders
Two years since Ofsted grades were scrapped. How much has really changed?

Wednesday

2nd Sep 2026

Ofsted’s latest failings make the calls to scrap it harder to ignore
All inspections should be paused to protect school leaders’ wellbeing in light of the watchdog’s decision to press on with an inspection when a head was absent undergoing cancer treatment, says ASCL leader
Pepe di'iasio