Ofsted won't grade schools ‘outstanding’ anymore – here’s what parents should know

From “ outstanding ”, down to “good”, “requires improvement” or, worst case, “inadequate”. They are words that will instantly chime with anyone who has searched for a decent state school for their child.

They have the power to make or break head teachers’ careers, send local house prices spiralling, or spell the end for struggling “inadequate” schools.

But now Ofsted is about to ditch the grading system it has used to assess schools for the last three decades. New Feature

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Ofsted Chief Inspector Sir Martyn Oliver announced that the old grades will be going from November, when a whole new inspection framework is introduced using “report cards”.

Teachers’ unions have criticised the reforms as “rushed” and “cosmetic”, arguing the new