Question 1

What is an Ofsted rating?

Accepted Answer

An Ofsted rating is the grade given to a school in England following an inspection by Ofsted (Office for Standards in Education). Schools are rated Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, or Inadequate based on the quality of education, behaviour, leadership, and early years provision.

Question 2

How are schools graded by Ofsted?

Accepted Answer

Ofsted inspectors visit schools and assess four key areas: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. Each area is graded, and the grades combine into an overall judgement: Outstanding (1), Good (2), Requires Improvement (3), or Inadequate (4).

Question 3

What is the difference between Outstanding and Good in Ofsted?

Accepted Answer

An Outstanding school significantly exceeds national expectations across all areas — teaching is consistently excellent, outcomes are high, and leadership is exceptional. A Good school meets the high standards Ofsted expects and provides a strong education. The majority of London schools are rated Good.

Question 4

How do I find my local school's Ofsted rating?

Accepted Answer

Use the search on ofsted.london to find any London school by name, postcode, or borough. Each school page shows the current Ofsted rating, the date of the last inspection, and a link to the full inspection report on the Ofsted website.

Question 5

What does KS2 mean in school data?

Accepted Answer

KS2 stands for Key Stage 2, which covers Years 3–6 (ages 7–11) in primary school. KS2 results typically refer to the SATs taken at the end of Year 6. The headline measure is the percentage of pupils meeting the expected standard in Reading, Writing, and Maths (RWM).

Question 6

What does FSM mean for schools?

Accepted Answer

FSM stands for Free School Meals. The percentage of pupils eligible for free school meals is used as a measure of deprivation. A higher FSM percentage indicates a school serving a more economically disadvantaged community. Schools with high FSM rates and strong Ofsted ratings are often highlighted as 'beating the odds'.

Question 7

Which London borough has the best Ofsted ratings?

Accepted Answer

Across London, boroughs such as Richmond upon Thames, Sutton, and Kingston upon Thames consistently have high proportions of Outstanding and Good schools. Inner-city boroughs including Tower Hamlets have made significant improvements and often perform above expectations relative to their levels of deprivation.

Question 8

How often are schools inspected by Ofsted?

Accepted Answer

Outstanding schools were historically exempt from routine inspection but new rules introduced in 2023 mean all schools are inspected regularly. Good schools are typically inspected every four to five years. Schools rated Requires Improvement or Inadequate are inspected more frequently — often within one to two years.

St Mary's School, Hampstead

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