Understanding Ofsted reports
What Ofsted ratings mean, how to read a full report, and how families use it alongside results and community insights.
What the ratings mean
Ofsted has graded schools as Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement or Inadequate. A single word hides nuance — a 'Good' school may be improving quickly, while an older 'Outstanding' grade may be years out of date.
Reading the full report
Focus on what the report says about quality of education, behaviour, personal development and leadership. Direct comments about pupils' experiences are often the most revealing part.
Using it alongside other signals
Combine the report with results data, a visit and anonymised community insights. Fammove summarises full reports in plain English so you can understand strengths and areas to watch.
Frequently asked questions
Are Ofsted ratings important?
They are a helpful starting point, but a rating summarises a whole school in one word and can be out of date. Read the full report and combine it with results and a visit.
How often are schools inspected?
Inspection frequency varies, so a rating may be several years old. Always check the inspection date and read the most recent full report.
Keep researching
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