The September 2024 update to Ofsted's School Inspection Handbook brings significant changes beyond the removal of overall effectiveness grades. Here's a more in-depth look at the additional updates and what they mean for school leaders:
1. No More Ofsted Logos for Schools Inspected This Year
Schools inspected from September 2024 onwards will no longer be able to use Ofsted judgement logos, even if they receive positive sub-judgments. This change aims to prevent misleading promotion in the absence of overall effectiveness grades.
2.No More Overall Effectiveness Grades
Ofsted is doing away with the overall effectiveness grade for state-funded schools. The focus now shifts squarely onto the four individual judgement areas:
- Quality of education
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Personal development
- Leadership and management
This change means school leaders must adopt a more comprehensive approach to improvement, ensuring all areas are performing well rather than prioritising those that contribute to a favourable overall grade.
3. Monitoring Inspections: A New Threshold
The criteria for monitoring inspections have been updated. Schools in a "category of concern" or with "inadequate" or "requires improvement" judgments in key areas will now be eligible.
4. Single Central Record: Enhanced Clarity
The updated guidance clarifies the Single Central Record requirements for both maintained schools and academies. School leaders should review their processes to ensure full compliance, including proper documentation of all necessary checks.
5. Inspection Dates: A Waiting Game
Schools inspected this year won't receive estimated dates for their next inspections until September 2025. However, they may still be subject to urgent or monitoring inspections.
6. Bank Holidays Impact Monday Call Pledge
Ofsted's commitment to notifying schools of routine inspections on Mondays may be affected by bank holidays. In such weeks, notifications may be delayed until Tuesday, potentially impacting inspection schedules.
7. 'Suspend and Return' for Safeguarding
The pilot 'suspend and return' policy allows inspections to be paused if safeguarding concerns are identified,provided the school demonstrates the capacity to address them within three months.
8. Categories of Concern and Ungraded Inspections
The criteria for placing schools in a "category of concern" and the focus of ungraded inspections have been refined.
9. Other Notable Changes
- Multi-academy trusts must be involved in deferral requests for their schools
- Aligned inspections for boarding and residential special schools are suspended for this academic year
- Clarification on how incomplete inspections are recorded in reports
All of our downloadable templates have been updated to reflect these changes, and you can find them in the Premium Resources section on our school leader community platform if you are a premium member, or alternatively, you can purchase them from our website.