Inspections impact on headteachers to be monitored
PAOfsted and school leaders' union National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) will work together to monitor the impact of the new schools inspection system on headteachers' wellbeing.
The government scrapped single-word judgments for schools in 2024 after criticism of the inspection system following the death of Berkshire headteacher Ruth Perry.
A coroner ruled an Ofsted inspection, which downgraded her Caversham Primary School in Reading from "outstanding" to "inadequate", had contributed to her taking her own life.
Ofsted's Chief Inspector Sir Martyn Oliver said the watchdog "want to hear feedback" and "make improvements".
The new report cards were rolled out in schools in England in November 2025 and include several grades for different parts of school life, with narrative summaries then giving more details about each area.
The areas schools are assessed on include curriculum and teaching and personal development and wellbeing.
There are five possible grades for each area:
- urgent improvement
- attention needed
- expected standard
- strong standard
- exceptional
NAHT repeatedly raised concerns about the impact of the report card system on mental health and the union's general secretary Paul Whiteman said it was "crucial that we have independent data that gives clear and honest feedback from leaders who have experienced inspection".
He added the union "look forward" to working with Ofsted and the Department for Education (DfE) through the new advisory group "to ensure that school leader wellbeing is being prioritised and action taken to support and protect them before, during and after the inspection process".
Ofsted and the DfE will be members of the group established by NAHT.
It will be chaired by Sinead McBrearty, chief executive of charity Education Support, whose independent review of the new system warned it would create more anxiety for leaders.
Sir Martyn said Ofsted is keen to use data to see where any improvement can be made "to secure a better future for children".
NAHT's bid to bring a legal challenge against Ofsted's new system for grading schools was dismissed at the High Court last year.
Last month, an NAHT poll found nearly one in two, or 45%, school leaders said they needed mental health support in the past year.
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