What the ratings mean
Ofsted gives an overall judgement of Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement or Inadequate. Each reflects inspectors' view of the school at a single point in time, so a rating is a useful signal — not the whole story.
What inspectors look at
Inspections consider the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. Reading the full report tells you far more than the headline grade alone.
Using reports wisely
Check the inspection date, read the detail, and combine it with performance data, a visit, and your own sense of fit. Compare a shortlist of schools rather than relying on one number.