Ofsted: reform needs to be right not rushed (2025)

In February 2025, Ofsted announced proposals to replace the current inspection reports with a new system based on a 'more nuanced view of a provider's strengths and areas for improvement' from 2025-26. FE colleges and other providers will no longer be subjected to overall headline grades, they will be judged on a colour-coded five-point grading scale from 'exemplary' to 'causing concern' across up to 20 areas - compared to a maximum of 10 under the current system.

The details of the new framework will need to be carefully considered however from a UCU perspective, the vitally important thing is for DfE and Ofsted to accept the current instruction framework is fundamentally flawed, not trusted and needs wholesale change rather than presentational tweaks of process or language.

UCU members have grave concerns about the stress, anxiety and adverse impact on health and wellbeing they experience as a result of Ofsted inspections and preparation for an Ofsted inspection. Our findings show that Ofsted inspections create a major health and safety risk for staff who experience significant levels of stress and anxiety both during and in the lead up to inspections. 

UCU is calling for Ofsted inspections to be abolished in the further education and skills sector. There should be a co-designed, collaborative, sector-led, peer improvement model that is valued and trusted by staff, students, parents/carers and the wider population. UCU is to be consulted on the new inspection regime in both FE and prison education settings. Ofsted's duty of care towards staff in the sector must be enshrined in law. Government should commission an independent review of Ofsted's inspection practice and methodology. This should include looking at perceptions of inspection and patterns of sector improvement in Wales via Estyn and in Northern Ireland via the Education and Training Inspectorate to learn the lessons of 'light-touch' inspection adopted across the nations.