Ofsted announces changes to school inspections

Ofsted has announced changes to its inspection processes and has launched a consultation on revisions to its complaints procedure, following the ongoing unrest and debate about the impact of school inspections.

Revisions to school inspections will see inspectors return more quickly to schools graded inadequate where this is only due to ineffective safeguarding, and proposed changes to Ofsted’s complaints process will increase transparency and make it easier for schools to raise concerns.

Inspectors will now return more quickly to schools graded inadequate overall due to ineffective safeguarding, but where all other judgements were good or better. They will return within three months of an inspection report being published, and parents will be informed of this intention in the report. If the school has been able to resolve the safeguarding concerns it is likely to see its overall grade improve.

From September, Ofsted will offer schools greater clarity about the threshold for effective versus ineffective safeguarding through its inspection handbook, as well as regular blogs and webinars. Ofsted will also describe ineffective safeguarding more clearly in inspection reports, to help reassure parents and others that these judgements are not made lightly.

Ofsted is also launching a consultation on significant changes to the complaints system, aimed at resolving complaints more quickly through improved dialogue between Ofsted and providers, reducing the administrative burden on those making a complaint, and increasing transparency in the process.

Ofsted will also be giving schools more information about the broad timing of their next inspection. This will be particularly helpful for schools that have been exempt from inspection for many years.

Inspectors will be clear that it is up to a headteacher to decide which colleagues, or others, they share their inspection outcome with – being aware that judgements are provisional until the report is finalised. Provisional outcomes can sometimes change and shouldn’t be published or shared with parents until finalised. This will also now be set out in the covering letter that accompanies draft inspection reports.

From September, when discussing areas of weakness, inspection reports will refer to ‘the school’ by default, rather than individuals. The contextual information at the end of reports will also be amended to list all those with responsibility for the school.

To provide wellbeing and mental health support to heads, the Department for Education will also double the size of the support programme by charity Education Support. An additional 500 heads will be recruited to the programme by March 2024.