Outstanding schools will no longer be exempt from inspections

Schools rated outstanding will no longer be exempt from inspections by Ofsted, under new plans announced by the Department for Education.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has announced a raft of new measures to help struggling schools and tackle underperformance. The main change is that Outstanding schools will no longer be exempt from routine Ofsted inspection, with some schools with that rating having not been inspected for a decade.

Alongside this, more funding will be made available to help top performing academies across the country to expand to support other schools and help them deliver the best possible education. Additionally, a new specialist academy trust will also be set up in the North of England to specifically take on and turn round the most challenging schools struggling with long term underperformance.

Williamson said: “Every parent wants to know their child is getting a great education and I will leave no stone unturned in my drive to deliver that. Education standards in this country have been transformed since 2010, and I am determined to make sure those schools that are leading the way are sharing their expertise and lifting up others so every child, no matter where they are from has the best possible start in life.

“This government has delivered on its promise to deliver a huge cash boost for the education system and now we will continue our relentless focus on standards by backing teachers, school leaders and the sector as a whole to do what they do best and deliver the best for our children.”