A survey of more than 5,000 headteachers has revealed that nearly three-quarters believe the Ofsted inspection regime has worsened over the last 12 months, despite significant reforms intended to reduce pressure on school staff.
Data from the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) shows that 72% of 5,307 school leaders surveyed in June 2026 felt the direction of inspections had deteriorated over the past year. The findings come as the union submits its report to Education Secretary Lucy Powell, who was appointed to the role in July 2026.
Transition from Single-Word Grades
The current dissatisfaction follows a major overhaul of the inspection framework in England. In September 2024, single-word headline grades were abolished, moving away from labels such as “Outstanding” or “Inadequate” that had faced intense criticism from the teaching profession.
The previous four-tier system was replaced by a more detailed “report card” approach. Rather than a single overall grade, the watchdog now uses a five-point grading scale, ranging from “Exceptional” at the highest end to “Urgent Improvement” at the lowest. While the government designed these changes to provide a more nuanced view for parents and reduce the “high-stakes” nature of a single label, the NAHT survey suggests that school leaders feel the reforms have failed to alleviate the underlying stress of the process.
Ofsted maintains that it has a statutory duty to provide clear and transparent reporting to parents.
The Department for Education has not yet issued a formal response to the 72% figure reported in the June survey. However, the findings are expected to form a central part of the NAHT’s “We Demand Better” campaign, which is calling for wider changes to school funding, workload, and pay alongside further inspection reform.
