Furious headteachers slam ‘stressful and blunt’ Ofsted plans as poll reveals huge anger

Some 92% of school leaders disagreed with Ofsted’s proposal to introduce five-point graded judgements across different areas

Thousands of headteachers have overwhelmingly rejected Ofsted’s plans to shake up the schools inspection system, a grim poll has found.

Some 92% of school leaders disagreed with its proposal to introduce five-point graded judgements across different areas, according to a survey of more 3,000 school leaders by union NAHT (National Association of Head Teachers). Under Ofsted’s new proposals, schools will no longer receive one-word ratings but will instead get one of five coloured ratings from dark green to red across 11 areas, from behaviour to achievement.

The changes are subject to a 12-week consultation. But headteachers have little faith any concerns raised in the consultation will be heard, with almost all (96%) school leaders not believing that Ofsted will make “meaningful changes” in response.

The school leaders union was bombarded with more than 1,900 extra comments in under 48 hours, illustrating the strength of feeling on the issue. Many headteachers raised fears that the new inspection model could increase their already excessive workload and damage staff well-being.

One leader said: “They have done incredibly well to make a stressful and blunt approach to school inspection even more stressful and blunt. It will increase inconsistency, drive up workload and create exponentially more stress on headteachers and leaders.”

Another said: “I cannot see how this new inspection model will have any positive impact on schools and especially the pressure faced by leaders. Feels like lengthening the stick to beat us with.” Another leader added: “When will the focus be on mutual support, positive criticism rather than stark judgements that affect the wellbeing of all giving their lives to this profession?”

NAHT has repeatedly warned that the new framework is being rushed, with Ofsted aiming to introduce the proposed changes by autumn 2025.

The changes to Ofsted’s system come after headteacher Ruth Perry took her own life in 2023 after an Ofsted report downgraded the rating of her Caversham Primary School in Reading. Her sister Julia Waters was highly critical of Ofsted’s new proposals. She said they have “re-traumatised” her family and urged for “more humane, fair, reliable, consistent” inspections to replace them.

On Monday Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson faced down her critics as she hailed a “new era” of standards as she set out Ofsted’s new “report card” grades. Speaking to reporters at the Centre for Social Justice, Ms Phillipson paid tribute to Ms Perry and said there is an “important need to strike a balance” to ensure teachers’ wellbeing plays a part.

She said she will “always seek to engage in dialogue” with unions but she added that she “won’t let anything get in the way” of her responsibility to families and children. “My first priority is children and their life chances, and that’s what I’d expect their first priority to be as well,” she said. The Cabinet minister added that the negative response from unions proves she is not “in hock” with them as critics have claimed.

Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the NAHT, said: “School leaders are ambitious about standards, but these proposals will increase the workload of teachers, driving them away from the classroom. When these proposals were leaked at the end of last year, we warned that they would not work. Rather than rethinking the plans, Ofsted is pressing ahead with a model that has attracted almost universal criticism. Ofsted needs to go back to the drawing board, urgently reconsider these ill-thought-through plans, and listen to the profession.”

NAHT surveyed 3,045 school leaders between February 3 and 5.