Two ways of looking at the new Ofsted framework
Image: Alamy.
In my view the new report cards have some advantages in terms of clarity over current inspection reports. However, serious concerns about a lack of transparency over detailed evidence remain, while Ofsted's pressing-on with these changes without more fundamental change does not impress.
I’ve had the unusual experience, over the last 24 hours, of viewing an offering from Ofsted through not entirely jaundiced, world-weary eyes.
Diving into the detail of a host of documents published by the inspectorate today, as it announced its new framework, I found myself thinking that some aspects seemed an improvement on the current arrangements.
That said, as has been widely noted, the bigger picture is one of the inspectorate rejecting both the widespread calls for more fundamental, back-to-first-principles change, and, seemingly, the detail of recommendations from two independent evaluations it has commissioned over the past year. I wonder, given this, why headteachers’ leaders have not more firmly said “enough is enough”.
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By Warwick Mansell for EDUCATION UNCOVERED
Published: 9 September 2025
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The much more concerning bits should include: Thank you so much for raising: "Inspection judgments and grades are likely to remain incontestable except in rare cases. There is to be no fully independent complaints procedure." The relevant legal reference is the legislative and regulator reform act (2006) point 21. It's good to see Frank Norris raising this in his article.