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Schools could be given report cards under proposals for a major shake-up of Ofsted inspections.

The new grading system was unveiled last week after one-word judgements for schools were scrapped by Labour in September. It followed an intense backlash against the education watchdog after the suicide of headteacher Ruth Perry.

She took her own life in 2023, ahead of the publication of a report downgrading her school, Caversham Primary in Reading, from “outstanding” to “inadequate”. A coroner concluded the Ofsted inspection in November 2022 “contributed” to Mrs Perry’s death.

The changes, which are subject to a 12-week consultation, have already sparked fury from teaching unions. But Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has insisted it will make it easier for parents and help to drive up standards in schools.

Here’s what you need to know.

How did the old system work?

Previously, all state schools in England were rated by Ofsted in four categories: “outstanding”, “good”, “requires improvement” or “inadequate”. Inspectors would visit every four years for the top two categories, or every two and half years in the school was deemed “requires improvement” or inadequate.

Inspectors would look at the quality of education of offer, behaviour, personal development, and the leadership and management of the school. They would also look at safeguarding of kids.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said this system was “too blunt” and “too vague” for many parents who rely on Ofsted’s judgements to decide where to send their kids to school.

What’s changing – and what are report cards?

Under the proposals, Ofsted would create a new report card with more detailed information for parents. Ms Phillipson said this would offer a more “granular insight” into the school so parents can make more informed decisions.

From autumn 2025, schools will instead be issued with a colour coded report card, with every issue ranked as:

• causing concern

• attention needed

• secure

• strong

• exemplary

The areas that will be evaluated include leadership and governance, curriculum, developing teaching, achievement, behaviour and attitudes, attendance, personal development and well-being, inclusion, early years and sixth form. Safeguarding will also be assessed – with the standard marked as either met or not met.

All schools with an identified need for improvement will receive monitoring calls and visits, to check that action is being taken to raise standards. The frequency of inspections will be determined by the consultation.

Previous judgments will remain valid until a new inspection takes place.

The Government will also set out proposals to revamp the way parents see information about schools, through new digital ‘School Profiles’. The idea is to create a one-stop-shop where parents can see up-to-date data on areas like attainment and attendance, as well as the school’s latest inspection report card.

What do teachers think?

The plans have triggered a backlash from education unions, with the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) saying the proposed system will continue to focus on “blaming and shaming” schools.

Some 92% of school leaders disagreed with its proposal to introduce five-point graded judgements across different areas, according to a survey of more 3,000 school leaders by the NAHT.

Ruth Perry’s sister Julia Waters has also been critical of Ofsted’s new proposals. She said they have “re-traumatised” her family and called for “more humane, fair, reliable, consistent” inspections to replace them.

What does Ofsted say?

The watchdog carried out a major consultation last year called the Big Listen, as the anger over Ms Perry’s focused attention on long-running complaints about the way schools are inspected. It found only 3 in 10 professionals and 4 in 10 parents supported single-word judgements for overall effectiveness.

It acknowledged there were different views on what should replace it. Parents and carers preferred a clear assessment of a wider set of categories, while most professionals wanted narrative descriptions of performance.

His Majesty’s Chief Inspector Sir Martyn Oliver said the aim of the report card and changes to inspection were designed to “raise standards and improve the lives of children, particularly the most disadvantaged”. He added: “The report card will replace the simplistic overall judgement with a suite of grades, giving parents much more detail and better identifying the strengths and areas for improvement for a school, early years or further education provider.”

The top “exemplary” grade will be used to help raise standards along with more regular inspections for schools that need to improve, he said. “We also hope that this more balanced, fairer approach will reduce the pressure on professionals working in education, as well as giving them a much clearer understanding of what we will be considering on inspection,” he added.

Can I have my say?

Yes. The consultation is open until 11.59pm on April 28. You can respond to it here. Ofsted will publish a report on the outcome.