Ofsted and League Table Questions Parents Ask

The most common Ofsted questions from parents, answered plainly: how the new report cards work, how often schools are inspected, and how much league tables should really sway your choice.

For most parents, Ofsted questions come up the moment they start comparing schools, and the system has changed enough recently to cause confusion. The old single-word verdicts have gone, report cards have arrived, and league tables sit alongside them telling a different part of the story. This guide answers the questions parents ask most, so you can read the evidence sensibly rather than picking a school on a headline grade.

What replaced the old Ofsted grades?

The single overall effectiveness judgement, the one word that used to sum up a whole school as outstanding, good, requires improvement or inadequate, was removed in September 2024. From November 2025, Ofsted began inspecting under a new framework and reporting through colour-coded report cards. Instead of one label, a school is now graded across several separate evaluation areas on a five-point scale: causing concern, attention needed, secure, strong and exemplary (Ofsted also uses an "urgent improvement" category for the most serious cases). There is a standalone judgement on inclusion, and a clearer focus on how well the school serves disadvantaged and vulnerable pupils.

Why do some schools still show an old single grade?

Because the new report cards only appear as schools are reinspected. Ofsted inspects roughly 430 schools a month, so it will take several years for every school in England to have a report card. In the meantime you will see a mix: some schools carry a recent report card across several areas, while others still show their last single-phrase judgement from before the change. When you compare two schools, check the date and the format of each report so you are comparing like with like.

How often are schools inspected?

Most state schools are inspected on a cycle of roughly every four years, though the exact timing depends on the school's history and any concerns raised. A school that has had a weaker result, or where issues are flagged, may be seen sooner. Because inspections can be a few years apart, an older report may not reflect the school as it is today, especially if the head teacher or staff have changed.

What are school league tables?

League tables, published by the government as performance measures, rank schools on pupils' exam and assessment results. For secondaries the headline measures are Progress 8 and Attainment 8, plus the percentage of pupils achieving grade 5 or above in English and maths GCSE. For primaries they focus on Key Stage 2 results in reading, writing and maths. You can look these up for any school on the official Compare school and college performance service.

Should I choose a school on its league table position?

Use the tables, but read them carefully. Raw attainment (how high the grades are) partly reflects the pupils a school takes in, so a school in an affluent area can post high scores without adding much. Progress measures such as Progress 8 are more useful, because they show how far pupils moved on from where they started. A school with modest raw results but strong progress may be doing an excellent job. Our guide on how to find and read a school's Ofsted and performance data walks through this in detail.

What matters as much as the grades?

Data narrows the field, but it does not tell you whether a school is right for your child. Visit on a normal day, watch how pupils and staff behave in the corridors, ask about support for children like yours, and trust what you see. Our article on what makes a good school covers the signs that matter more than any rating. Combine the report card, the progress data and your own visit, and you will make a far better decision than any single number allows.

For more on comparing and applying, start at the Schools Insight homepage.