Ofsted’s New Grading System: A Big Shift, and a Big Opportunity for Education Suppliers
Ofsted has announced a major overhaul of its school inspection framework, set to take effect in autumn 2025. The current one-word judgments, “Outstanding,” “Good,” “Requires Improvement,” and “Inadequate”, are being replaced by a more detailed, area-by-area report card and a new five-point grading scale.
This shift is not just a change in language. It represents a fundamental rethink in how school performance is assessed and communicated—and it has big implications, not only for schools but also for the wider education ecosystem, particularly education suppliers.
What’s Changing?
Instead of a single headline judgment, schools will receive:
A report card breaking down performance in key areas such as:
Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management
A five-point rating scale for each area:
“Causing concern”
“Attention needed”
“Secure”
“Strong”
“Exemplary”
A separate indicator showing whether safeguarding duties are being met
More emphasis on contextual nuance and support, especially for schools facing long-term challenges
These changes follow widespread concern about the pressure placed on schools by reductive judgments—concerns that tragically came to the forefront in the case of headteacher Ruth Perry.
Why It Matters
For schools, this new system brings greater transparency, fairness, and clarity. Instead of being reduced to a single label, schools will get a fuller picture of what they’re doing well and where they need to improve.
But for education suppliers, especially those providing tools for assessment, data analytics, performance tracking, and school improvement planning, this is a moment of real opportunity.
Opportunities for Education Suppliers
More Nuanced Data Means More Demand for Analysis Tools
Schools will now need to understand and improve performance across multiple dimensions. This creates demand for platforms that help them track and analyse performance at a granular level—not just academic results, but behaviour, leadership, and wellbeing too.
Assessment for Improvement, Not Just Accountability
With the emphasis shifting from judgment to development, tools that support formative assessment, diagnostic reviews, and school self-evaluation will become more valuable. Suppliers that can show how their products support genuine school improvement—not just box-ticking—will stand out.
Consultancy, CPD & Coaching Services
Schools may seek external support in specific areas identified as “causing concern” or “attention needed.” This opens doors for CPD providers, coaching services, and leadership training firms who can align their offerings to Ofsted’s new categories.
Tailored Reporting & Benchmarking
With Ofsted’s new five-point scale, there’s an opportunity to create aligned benchmarking tools, helping schools see where they sit in relation to others and identify what “strong” or “exemplary” really looks like in each domain.
Support with Safeguarding Readiness
Since safeguarding will be flagged separately, suppliers in the safeguarding space—whether through training, policy compliance, or tech—will find their solutions even more central to inspection readiness.
Final Thoughts
Ofsted’s new approach signals a welcome move away from reductive grading and toward a more intelligent, supportive framework. But it also demands more from schools—and that’s where the supplier ecosystem can step in.
The companies that thrive in this next chapter will not be the ones offering the loudest claims but the ones offering the clearest insight, the most practical support, and the deepest understanding of how to help schools grow rather than just be judged.
If you’re an education supplier, this is the time to rethink how your products align with the new framework. If you’re in school leadership, it’s time to ask whether the tools you’re using are ready for this more nuanced era of accountability.