Second Head Teachers' Union Demands Pause to Ofsted Graded Inspections in England

A second union representing head teachers in England has urged Ofsted to suspend its graded school inspections, intensifying pressure on the watchdog over what it describes as a system in crisis. The Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) announced its position amid growing concern about the wellbeing of school leaders, warning that the current inspection regime has become unmanageable and potentially damaging to those working in education.

The union said it had passed a motion of no confidence in the ability of Ofsted's leadership to fix the problems caused by the new inspection framework. ASCL also indicated it would consider balloting members on industrial action if the government does not respond to its demands, marking a significant escalation in the dispute between school leaders and the inspectorate.

ASCL general secretary Pepe Di'Iasio said the decision to act had not been taken lightly. He argued that Ofsted's reassurances about understanding the pressures on school staff had not been backed by meaningful change, and that attempts to negotiate improvements had reached a dead end. He described the current system as unfit for purpose and called for an urgent review.

The announcement follows similar concerns raised by the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), which last month said changes introduced by Ofsted had been severely harmful to school leaders' welfare. The NAHT warned that the system could pose a risk to life if reforms were not introduced swiftly, citing testimonies from members who described feeling overwhelmed and anxious.

At the centre of the controversy is Ofsted's report card system, introduced last November to replace the previous one or two-word overall judgements. Under the new approach, schools are graded across multiple areas rather than receiving a single headline rating, a change intended to provide a more nuanced picture of school performance.

The overhaul followed the death of head teacher Ruth Perry, who took her own life after her school was downgraded from outstanding to inadequate. An inquest later concluded that the Ofsted inspection had contributed to her death, prompting widespread calls for reform and a rethink of how schools are assessed.

Ofsted has defended its approach, saying it has worked hard to reduce the pressure associated with inspections. A spokesperson acknowledged that workload and wellbeing remain challenges but insisted the watchdog is listening to feedback from professionals and continuing to improve its processes.

On Friday, Ofsted's chief inspector, Sir Martyn Oliver, pointed to an independent survey of education providers as evidence that the organisation is moving in the right direction. He said the data showed progress, while acknowledging that workload and wellbeing in education remain difficult issues that he does not take lightly.

The independent report, commissioned by Ofsted to evaluate the new framework, found that school leaders were generally positive about their inspection experience. It concluded that inspections had become more collaborative and better at accounting for context than the previous system.

However, the same report also revealed a troubling picture of the human cost. Nearly half of school leaders who responded to the survey — 48% — said their staff's mental wellbeing had been negatively affected either a fair amount or a lot by a recent inspection. The interim findings were based on focus groups and almost 700 responses from school, college and early years leaders.

A full version of the report is expected to be published next year, but the interim results have done little to ease tensions. Critics argue that even a system designed to be more supportive is still generating significant stress for those on the receiving end of inspections.

The Department for Education (DfE) said ministers are working with Ofsted and school leaders to ensure accountability is fair, proportionate and focused on helping every school improve. It stressed that inspection and accountability are vital but must reflect the reality of what is happening in schools and support improvement rather than add to existing pressures.

ASCL's call for a pause, coupled with the prospect of an informal ballot on industrial action, raises the stakes considerably. If the union proceeds with a ballot and members back strike action, it would represent an unprecedented challenge to England's school inspection system and could disrupt the accountability framework that successive governments have relied upon.

The dispute also highlights a broader tension in education policy: how to hold schools to account without placing unsustainable strain on the people who run them. Ofsted maintains that its reforms are helping, while unions argue that the changes have not gone far enough and that vulnerable school leaders are paying the price.

With two major unions now openly questioning Ofsted's leadership and threatening industrial action, the pressure on ministers and the inspectorate to respond is mounting. Whether through a pause, a further review, or accelerated reforms, the debate over how England inspects its schools appears set to intensify in the months ahead.