In September 2024 Ofsted announced a number of changes in response to its ‘Big Listen’ consultation which took place earlier this year. The proposed changes are designed to reduce the pressure of inspection on education and social care staff, while maintaining a robust inspection regime.

  • Schools in England will face increased scrutiny on how they support vulnerable children as part of reforms to the education inspectorate. A consultation will be undertaken to address how inclusivity will be measured.
  • All schools will be notified of inspections planned for the week on a Monday, with inspections taking place on Tuesday and Wednesday and report writing on Thursday.
  • Changes include plans to introduce a focus on inclusion in a “report card” system to be rolled out from September 2025.
  • The new report card for parents will allow for a “nuanced description” of when a school is performing well or not in a certain area and will provide context by considering local area data.
  • Single-phrase inspection headline grades for schools in England are being scrapped.
  • Ofsted will pause the publication of inspection reports when safeguarding concerns are identified in an otherwise high-performing school until inspectors revisit the school within three months.
  • Ofsted plans to introduce a new inspection framework for schools, early years, and further education with a greater focus on pupil outcomes to drive higher standards. Consultation will star later thus academic year.
  • An Ofsted Academy service will be launched this Autumn to train staff and ensure greater insight into best practice.
  • Six national hubs to be established to ensure consistency across the regions.
  • Complaints panels including external representatives to become a permanent fixture in the complaints process.
  • Ofsted to work with ministers to allow it to inspect multi-academy trusts, although no timescale provided.
  • The most challenging action will be to determine a response in relation to its culture so that it is able ‘to achieve its ambition of being trusted.’

Link: Building a better Ofsted: the response to the Big Listen

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