Ofsted: our position | National Governance Association

Updated September 2025

NGA supports an independent inspection regime.

We broadly welcome the new approach to inspection announced in late 2025, in particular:

The increased prominence of governance;
The removal of single-word judgements, and replacement with a more nuanced system;
The increased emphasis on inclusion;
The inspectorate’s commitment to addressing concerns around staff workload, and the consistency between inspections;
The lowering of the stakes associated with inspections through the new approach to school support.

Nonetheless, we continue to argue for a deeper integration between the rigorous and robust external accountability provided by Ofsted, and the week-in, week-out internal scrutiny delivered by governing boards.

We also support the government’s manifesto commitment to trust-wide inspections, to reflect the importance of trusts as the accountable body for most of England’s schools. Any new approach needs to be carefully integrated with school-level inspections to minimise additional workload and stress. It must recognise all of the pillars of a quality trust, including workforce, finance and trust governance, something which is likely to require additional capacity within the inspectorate. It must also avoid creating any perverse incentives which could discourage MATs from taking on struggling schools.