Ofsted ditches 'satisfactory' rating for schools

The move is designed to tackle the number of so-called coasting schools that remain "stubbornly satisfactory" over several inspections.

Ofsted’s chief inspector, Sir Michael Wilshaw, said no school would be allowed to remain in the category of "requires improvement" for more than three years under the new proposals.

Schools judged in this new category would be subject to re-inspection within 12 to 18 months, as opposed to the current three years. Schools will then have up to two further inspections within a three-year period to demonstrate improvement. Any school failing to do so will be placed in special measures.

"There are too many coasting schools not providing an acceptable standard of education," Wilshaw said. "Of particular concern are the 3,000 schools educating a million children that have been ‘satisfactory’ two inspections in a row. This is not good enough.

"That is why I am determined to look again at the judgments we award, not only so we are accurately reporting what we see, but so that those schools that most need help are identified and can properly begin the process of improvement."