The New Ofsted Report Cards
From November 2025, Ofsted replaced headline grades with detailed report cards. Here's everything you need to know about the new system.
The New System
What is an Ofsted Report Card?
A report card is a detailed, at-a-glance document that replaces the old single-word Ofsted judgement. Instead of one headline grade, schools are assessed across multiple areas — each with its own grade and narrative commentary.
Illustrative example — not a real school
No single headline grade
The report card deliberately avoids reducing a school to one word. Each area is judged on its own merits.
Five-point grading scale
A more nuanced scale from Exceptional to Urgent improvement replaces the old four-point system.
Contextual data included
Report cards show the school's SEND profile, deprivation indicators, and pupil demographics right on the card.
Narrative for every area
Each graded area comes with written commentary explaining what inspectors found — the real substance of the report.
Grading Scale
The five new grades
Each assessed area receives one of these five grades. Think of "Expected standard" as the new equivalent of a solid "Good".
Exceptional
The very highest standard. Reserved for truly outstanding performance. Few schools will receive this in any given area.
Strong standard
The school performs well above the expected level in this area. A strong, positive judgement that parents should view favourably.
Expected standard
The school meets what is expected. This is a good result — the majority of well-run schools will receive this in most areas.
Needs attention
Areas that require improvement. The school will receive support and monitoring. This is not a crisis, but a signal to watch.
Urgent improvement
Serious concerns that demand immediate action. Significant intervention will follow — similar to the old Inadequate judgement.
Assessment Areas
Six core areas of inspection
Every school is assessed across these six areas. Schools with Early Years Foundation Stage or Post-16 provision receive additional specific judgements.
Leadership & governance
How effectively leaders set the school's direction, manage resources, and hold themselves accountable. Includes governors' oversight and strategic planning.
Curriculum & teaching
The quality, breadth, and sequencing of the curriculum. How effectively teachers deliver it, whether pupils build knowledge progressively, and how assessment informs teaching.
Attendance & behaviour
Pupil attendance rates, how the school promotes good attendance, behaviour management, and how safe and orderly the school environment is.
Achievement
Pupil outcomes and progress — how well pupils achieve relative to their starting points. Covers attainment data, progress scores, and destinations after leaving school.
Personal development & wellbeing
How well the school develops pupils' character, resilience, and preparation for life. Covers mental health support, SMSC (spiritual, moral, social, cultural) development, and British values.
Cynhwysiant
A new, prominent area. How well the school supports disadvantaged pupils, those with SEND, and other vulnerable learners. Covers equality of access, reasonable adjustments, and outcomes gaps.
Safeguarding is assessed separately
Safeguarding does not receive one of the five grades. Instead, it is judged as Met or Not met. If safeguarding is judged as not met, this triggers urgent action regardless of other grades.
Intervention
What happens if a school receives a poor grade?
Under the new report card system, different grades trigger different levels of support and intervention.
Urgent improvement
The most serious grade triggers significant intervention — comparable to the old Special Measures. The school receives intensive monitoring, leadership may be replaced, and structural changes (including academy orders for maintained schools) may follow.
Needs attention
The school receives targeted support and monitoring in the specific area flagged. A follow-up inspection will check progress. This is a signal to watch — not a crisis, but it does require a clear response and improvement plan.
🛡️ Safeguarding: Not met
Triggers immediate action regardless of all other grades. This is the most serious single finding on any report card and can lead to emergency measures, including possible closure or suspension of leadership.
For parents: If your child's school receives a poor grade, schools under intervention receive significant additional support and many improve rapidly. Read the full narrative commentary for details, and speak to the headteacher about the improvement plan.
Side by Side
How the systems compare
For Parents
What this means for you
No more shorthand
You can no longer say a school is simply "Good" or "Outstanding". Instead, look at each area individually. A school might excel in teaching but need attention on inclusion — the report card makes this visible.
Context matters more
Report cards include contextual data about the school's intake (SEND, deprivation, demographics). Use this to understand results in context — a school serving a deprived community achieving Expected standard may be doing exceptional work.
Inclusion is prominent
For the first time, inclusion has its own dedicated assessment area. If your child has SEND or other additional needs, this is the section to focus on. It covers the quality of support, reasonable adjustments, and outcomes gaps.
Read the narrative
The grades give you an at-a-glance view, but the real insight is in the narrative commentary. Inspectors explain what is working well, what needs improvement, and what the school is doing about it.