Ofsted change tracker
Started 21 October 2026.
| Date | Change | What it means for schools | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-09 | Interim independent evaluation (IFF Research) of the renewed inspection approach: 88% respectful, 76% collaborative, 74% took account of context, 81% report card accurate; workload and wellbeing still concerns | First external evidence on the new inspections. Self-report from schools inspected January to April 2026, so possible selection bias. Full report due 2027 | Ofsted/IFF |
| 2026-09 (announced 2026-06-12) | First annual update to toolkits, operating guides and inspection information. Guidance coming on where the data beside report cards comes from. National data comparisons removed for special schools. Updates now every year | These are the rules for this term's inspections. Expect a cycle of yearly changes | Ofsted blog |
| 2026-07-14 | Annual report 2025–26: 1,420 schools inspected under the new framework; new powers under the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 noted | Shows the scale of the rollout and the enforcement context (260 unregistered-school investigations, 23 warning notices) | Ofsted |
| 2025-12-01 (updated 2026-02-05) | Report card guidance: no overall judgement, five-point grade per evaluation area, safeguarding met or not met | Parents need help reading the cards. Old and new grades can't be compared | Ofsted |
| 2025-11-10 (confirmed 2025-09) | Renewed EIF, toolkits and report cards in force. Volunteer schools inspected first, then routine inspections | The baseline for the new regime | Ofsted |
| 2025-09-09 | Consultation outcome: graded school evaluation areas cut from 8 to 6 (inclusion; curriculum and teaching; achievement; attendance and behaviour; personal development and well-being; leadership and governance). Safeguarding judged separately as met or not met. Separate early years and post-16 areas where relevant | Inclusion is now graded in its own right. Expect inspectors to look at how it is planned and delivered | Ofsted consultation response |