According to Ofsted’s Annual Report 19% more children are missing education entirely compared to 2024. It notes that "The gap between disadvantaged children and their peers starts early and widens through education phases. Exacerbating this, disadvantaged children too often miss school and are unable to recover lost learning, ending up in alternative provision or out … Continue reading Ofsted annual report 2024/25: education, children’s services and skills
Category: Ofsted
NAHT loses appeal against Ofsted judicial review refusal
This Schools Week article reports on the outcome of the NAHT appeal against Ofsted. The new Ofsted inspection regime is highly unpopular amongst educators - they report that the renewed framework is increasing the burden on senior staff. The new inspections, which began this month with volunteer schools, involve settings being judged with one of … Continue reading NAHT loses appeal against Ofsted judicial review refusal
Martyn Oliver’s speech at the 2025 Association of Colleges Annual Conference
Anybody with an interest in the new Ofsted inspection scheme should read Ofsted CEO Martyn Oliver's speech where he describes the new grading system with higher expectations. It's available on the Ofsted website, here.
Ofsted confirms changes to education inspection
On 9th September Oftsed announced that the new report card based inspection regime will commence in November 2025. You can view videos of the report cards from their website here, this page also summarises the announcement. Here are the links to the full toolkits for each of the educational settings: Early years State-funded schools Non-association … Continue reading Ofsted confirms changes to education inspection
Insights from early adopters of artificial intelligence
Ofsted have recently published new research and analysis on artificial intelligence (AI) - ‘The biggest risk is doing nothing’: insights from early adopters of artificial intelligence in schools and further education colleges. You can read the report and their findings here on their website. Also, this page on Oftesed's website explains how they lookn at … Continue reading Insights from early adopters of artificial intelligence
Ofsted announces delay to consultation outcome
Ofsted had aimed to publish a response to its recent consulation during the summer term, but has now has announced that its response to the consultation on a new inspection model will be delayed until September 2025 due to the high number of responses received (over 6,500 responses from parents, education professionals and representative bodies). … Continue reading Ofsted announces delay to consultation outcome
Ofsted state-funded school inspections and outcomes
Ofsted publish aggregated management information monthly, and publications of inspections and outcomes from 2005 onwards are available here. The latest report is dated 28 Feb 2025. You can download it from the Ofsted websiote, here.
Martyn Oliver’s speech at the ASCL Annual Conference
You can read the full transcript of Martyn Oliver's recent speech on the Ofsted website, here. He is to be a keynote speaker at the forthcoming NGA annual conference in July: find out more here.
Supporting children aged 16 and 17 who need help when they are homeless
A new report from Ofsted highlihtes that although in 2022–23, a report by the Children’s Commissioner revealed that approximately 6,500 16- and 17-year-olds reported being homeless, the true scale of homelessness for 16- and 17-year-olds is a ‘hidden issue’. Many children are living in unstable environments, such as staying with a friend, and may not … Continue reading Supporting children aged 16 and 17 who need help when they are homeless
Improving the way Ofsted inspects education
Ofsted has opened a new consultation on its plans for inspection from September 2025. The consultation will run for 12 weeks, from 3 February to 28 April. In tandem with this the DfE are running a consultation on accountability. Ofsted state: "This consultation asks for your views, as parents, carers, professionals or learners, on the … Continue reading Improving the way Ofsted inspects education
Martyn Oliver speaks about Ofsted reform
Ofsted chief inspector Martyn Oliver spoke to education committee MPs on new report cards, safeguarding 'spot checks' and SEND worries amongst other things. You can read the transcript of the meeting on the Parliament website, here (where there is also am link to watch the recording of the meeting). Some of the points he made … Continue reading Martyn Oliver speaks about Ofsted reform
Ofsted annual report: education and social care serving most children well, but system pressures bite for most disadvantaged
Ofsted find that most children are well-served by the education sector and, in social care, life-changing work is being done for children and young people every day. However: Many reasons to be positive about future of education and children’s social care, but huge challenges remain. Education and care providers struggling to recruit and retain skilled … Continue reading Ofsted annual report: education and social care serving most children well, but system pressures bite for most disadvantaged
Ofsted: the response to the Big Listen
Ofsted have concluded their "Big Listen" consultation, and on 3rd September they published their response - this covers children’s social care, special education needs and disabilities and alternative provision, early years, schools, further education and skills, teacher professional development and education. For schools, the changes they have announced are as follows: remove the overall effectiveness … Continue reading Ofsted: the response to the Big Listen
Changes to ungraded inspections
Oftsed's changes to ungraded inspections in the autumn term are explained in this article on their website. They outline the process which can be summarised as: The day before the on-site inspection begins, they will hold an extended phone conversation aimed atb agreeing what they need to do during the on-site inspection; During the inspection, … Continue reading Changes to ungraded inspections
The Alternative Big Listen
Ofsted's "Big Listen" initiative was reported her on 19 January 2024, and Prof Colin Richards and Frank Norris MBE believeb that it does not consider changes that many believe are essential to improve the inspection process for schools and other education settings. THey have launched The Alternative Big Listen and you can take part by … Continue reading The Alternative Big Listen
