Two findings from the same research: 88% felt respected, and four in ten say it hurt
What happened
On 9 October 2026 Ofsted published independent research into how its new-style inspections are being experienced by the people being inspected. The research was carried out by IFF Research, an independent social research agency. The headteachers' union NAHT had input into the question design. The method was focus groups and online surveys with school, early years and further education leaders after their inspection. This is an interim report covering inspections from January to April 2026. A full report is due in 2027. The positive findings, as percentages of respondents who agreed: - inspection was conducted respectfully: 88% - empathetic: 78% - collaborative: 76% - inspectors took account of the provision's unique context: 74% - inspection was tailored to the provision's context: 72% - the report card accurately described what it is like to be a pupil, learner or child there: 81% - more than 6 in 10 said inspection would help them improve - nearly three-quarters said inspection identified the best of their provision - 63% felt positive about the inspection process once it was over - nearly 7 in 10 said the inspection team took actions to minimise stress And the findings that pull the other way: - 48% said the benefits outweighed the negatives, against 31% who said the negatives outweighed the benefits - 55% said the workload was manageable, against 27% who did not - 4 in 10 providers said inspection negatively affected their or their staff's mental wellbeing "a fair amount" or "a lot" - and in schools, that rose to nearly half Sir Martyn Oliver, His Majesty's Chief Inspector, said: "I know that workload and wellbeing in education continue to be challenging, and I don't take that lightly." One primary school leader told a focus group: "I really felt involved with all of the gradings that we were given."
Why this matters
To understand why this research exists, you need the recent history. Ofsted's old system gave each school a single word: outstanding, good, requires improvement or inadequate. That was scrapped after the death of headteacher Ruth Perry, whose family said an inspection had contributed to her taking her own life. In its place came report cards, with grades across several areas rather than one overall word. The new approach is what this research is evaluating. The reception has been contested. Earlier in 2026, a survey reported that around three-quarters of school leaders thought the new system was worse than the one it replaced, and unions have reported serious effects on leaders' health. So this research matters because it is the first substantial independent look at how the new inspections actually land - and because it does not simply confirm either side's position. It matters to parents too, for a specific reason. 81% of leaders said the report card accurately described what it is like to be a pupil or child at their setting. If you read report cards when choosing a school, that is a direct piece of evidence about whether the document in front of you is a fair picture.
What the evidence actually says
The honest reading of this research is that both things are true at once, and anyone quoting only one half is misleading you. On the conduct of inspections, the figures are genuinely good. 88% found inspectors respectful. 78% found them empathetic. These are high numbers for a process that is, by its nature, stressful. On the effect of inspections, the figures are genuinely concerning. Four in ten providers reported harm to their own or staff wellbeing - rising to nearly half in schools. And the benefits-versus-negatives split, 48% to 31%, means roughly one in three leaders came away feeling the process cost more than it gave. Those are not contradictory results. You can be treated courteously by people doing something that still harms you. The research is essentially saying: the manner has improved, the pressure has not gone away. Now the limitations, which are real. This is interim. It covers inspections from January to April 2026 only - an early window, when both inspectors and schools were still adjusting. The full report is due in 2027. The government's release does not state sample sizes or response counts. That is a meaningful gap: without knowing how many leaders responded, and what share of those inspected they represent, the percentages cannot be weighted properly. And the research was commissioned by Ofsted about Ofsted. IFF Research is independent, and NAHT's involvement in question design is a reasonable safeguard. But it is still an organisation evaluating itself through a contractor, which is a normal arrangement and still worth naming.
Practical advice
For parents, three practical points. Read report cards as a description, not a verdict. The research suggests leaders think they describe their settings fairly - which makes them more useful than the old single word, but also longer and more nuanced. Read the areas, not just the top line. Check the date. An inspection from 2023 under the old framework is a very different document from one in 2026. Both may be on a school's website. And visit. No inspection document tells you how a building feels at half past three on a Tuesday. Most schools run open mornings in the autumn term, and these are usually the best half-hour you will spend on the decision. For school and setting leaders, two points. If your inspection is coming, the research suggests the inspectorate's own stated priority is minimising stress - nearly 7 in 10 said the team took actions to do so. Asking directly about workload during the planning call is a reasonable thing to do. And if workload or wellbeing was badly affected, say so formally. The full report is still being compiled for 2027, and post-inspection feedback is one of the routes that feeds in. Research only reflects the people who respond to it. If you work in education and you are struggling, Education Support runs a free, confidential helpline for teachers and education staff across the UK, open 24 hours a day on 08000 562 561.
What to know
On 9 October 2026 Ofsted published interim findings from independent research by IFF Research into its renewed approach to education inspection, covering inspections from January to April 2026. NAHT had input into the question design. A full report is due in 2027. On conduct: 88% of respondents said inspection was conducted respectfully, 78% empathetic, 76% collaborative, 74% said inspectors took account of their unique context, and 81% said the report card accurately described what it is like to be a pupil or child there. More than 6 in 10 said inspection would help them improve, nearly three-quarters said it identified the best of their provision, and 63% felt positive about the process afterwards. On impact: 4 in 10 providers said inspection negatively affected their or their staff's mental wellbeing "a fair amount" or "a lot", rising to nearly half in schools. 48% said benefits outweighed negatives against 31% who said the reverse, and 55% said workload was manageable against 27% who did not. Sir Martyn Oliver, His Majesty's Chief Inspector, said he knows workload and wellbeing "continue to be challenging" and does not take that lightly. Limitations: the findings are interim, cover an early four-month window, and sample sizes were not published. The research was commissioned by Ofsted and carried out by an independent contractor. Sources: Ofsted, "Independent research finds Ofsted's new-look inspections are more collaborative and respectful", 9 October 2026, https://www.gov.uk/government/news/independent-research-finds-ofsteds-new-look-inspections-are-more-collaborative-and-respectful ; Ofsted, "Ofsted to extend pause on inspections of NPQ and ECTP providers", 5 October 2026, https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ofsted-to-extend-pause-on-inspections-of-npq-and-ectp-providers This article is for general information and does not replace advice from a school, a qualified professional, or a doctor, pharmacist or other qualified healthcare professional.
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