The current judgements of Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement and Inadequate will be replaced by report cards for schools from September 2025.
It was also announced that the removal of single headline grades for early years settings, independent schools, colleges, children’s social care providers, and initial teacher training ‘will follow’.
However, while it has been confirmed that this change will also apply to early years settings the exact timescales for this have yet to be announced.
Early years organisations have called for the change to be brought in for nurseries, pre-schools and childminders as soon as possible.
Single headline grades have been removed for state schools due to be inspected this academic year to boost standards and increase transparency for parents, the Government said.
The removal of the current grading system was promised by Labour before the election, after the death of headteacher Ruth Perry, whose family has campaigned to end one-word judgements. Last year, a coroner ruled that Perry's suicide in January 2023 after her school Caversham primary in Reading was downgraded from outstanding to inadequate was contributed to by an Ofsted inspection.
For school inspections this academic year, parents will see four grades across the existing sub-categories: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development and leadership and management.
The Department for Education said it will continue to intervene where necessary in issues of serious concern, including by issuing an academy order, which may in some cases mean transferring to new management. Ofsted will continue to identify these schools, which would have been graded as inadequate.
The Government said that the report cards will provide parents with a full and comprehensive assessment of how schools are performing and ensure that inspections are more effective in driving improvement. Recent data shows that reports cards are supported by 77 per cent of parents.
Bridget Phillipson, education secretary, said, ‘The need for Ofsted reform to drive high and rising standards for all our children in every school is overwhelmingly clear. The removal of headline grades is a generational reform and a landmark moment for children, parents, and teachers.
‘Single headline grades are low information for parents and high stakes for schools. Parents deserve a much clearer, much broader picture of how schools are performing – that’s what our report cards will provide.
‘This government will make inspection a more powerful, more transparent tool for driving school improvement. We promised change, and now we are delivering.’
Commenting, Neil Leitch, CEO of the Early Years Alliance, said, ‘We know that Ofsted inspections are the single biggest source of stress for early years providers, with our research showing that the vast majority of settings are in support of the removal of single-word judgements. As such, confirmation that this change will also apply to the early years sector is undoubtedly positive, and is likely to be warmly welcomed by providers across the country.
‘That said, it remains disappointing that despite the fact that this policy change will ultimately impact the entirety of the education sector, today's announcement was almost entirely focused on schools.
‘While we recognise that there are additional considerations that must be taken into account for the early years – such as the fact that Ofsted judgements are currently linked to early entitlement funding eligibility – it remains vital that this change is also applied to our sector as soon as possible.
‘As we have said time and time again, education doesn't begin and end with schools. We therefore urge both the Department for Education and Ofsted to ensure that as this process of change begins, early years are treated as a priority.’
Purnima Tanuku, chief executive of the National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) said, ‘We know that worrying about inspection outcomes is a source of stress for many people working in early education and care. These changes must lead to a more standardised and fairer approach that focusses on improving quality, consistency in inspections and support for the early years workforce.
‘At the same time, the inspections need to reflect the nuances of how many things go into what makes settings high-quality. It is important that parents get a fuller picture of what an early education setting is all about.
‘The detail of the plans will be important because providers need to be ready for any changes and involved in the process. However, this engagement with the sector must happen quickly to ensure everyone is treated equally. The government must work with the sector to make sure the regulatory framework is fit for purpose, proportionate and has children at the heart of it.’
Teaching unions also welcomed the removal of the single headline inspection grades.
Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the National Association of Headteachers, said, ‘The scrapping of overarching grades is a welcome interim measure. We have been clear that simplistic one-word judgements are harmful, and we are pleased the government has taken swift action to remove them.
‘School leaders recognise the need for accountability but it must be proportionate and fair and so we are pleased to see a stronger focus on support for schools instead of heavy-handed intervention.’
Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, said, ‘The idea that you could give a verdict on a whole school in one or two words was always ridiculous. The Secretary of State for Education is right to say that single headline grades are low information for parents and high stakes for schools.
‘Scrapping the headline grade is a step in the right direction. Ultimately, the NEU still thinks that Ofsted needs to be abolished and replaced.’
