Ofsted speak out on ‘quiet curse of low expectations’ amid staunch defence of new report cards
Ofsted’s chief inspector has vowed that the schools watchdog will “never underestimate” disappointing results for disadvantaged and vulnerable pupils.
Speaking at the Association of School and College Leaders’ (ASCL) annual conference, Sir Martyn Oliver is expected to say Ofsted will “never succumb to the silent curse of low expectations” and “will not apologize for being more rigorous”.
It comes after the new grading system for schools was introduced in November despite warnings from teaching unions about the potential impact on staff mental health.
Sir Martyn will tell school leaders: “We see thousands of schools working in challenging conditions, going through challenges again and again to give children a life-changing education. But sometimes we also see disadvantaged and vulnerable children not taking the steps they need to take.”
“Some think this is a dilemma for Ofsted, arguing that we should recognize work and effort and downplay disappointing results.
“But this is not a dilemma.
“We will of course recognize the work done, celebrate where the school is doing well and identify contextual challenges faced, but we can never underestimate the disappointing results.
“We will never succumb to the silent curse of low expectations that will cause Ofsted to prioritize context over outcomes for the most disadvantaged and vulnerable children.”
The speech recalls former Tory education secretary Michael Gove, and before him George W. Bush, calling the “soft bigotry of low expectations” a barrier to children’s progress.
Ofsted has canceled one-word orders for schools in 2024 following criticism of the inspection system following the death of headteacher Ruth Perry.
Following a consultation, new report cards have been distributed from November 2025, with schools in multiple areas rated on a five-point scale.
Sir Martyn is expected to say more schools have received the new “requires attention” rating than the old “requires improvement” rating.
“We are being more meticulous. I don’t apologize for that,” he will add.
In an ASCL survey last year, two in three headteachers (65%) said the new system would be worse for their wellbeing than the old one.
Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the NAHT school leaders’ union, said he was pleased the chief inspector wanted to see all children achieve, but “we have seen the rhetoric of low expectations repeated over and over again, but we don’t yet know clearly where they should come from.”
He added: “It is deeply disappointing to see confirmation that Ofsted has designed a framework that will see schools receive a ‘requires attention’ rating at a higher rate than the former ‘requires improvement’ rating, and Ofsted has publicly made a link between the two.
“Given the tragic circumstances that catalysed the changes in inspection, it is quite remarkable that Ofsted has seen fit to increase the pressure on schools and school leaders.”
Sir Martyn will say it is right that Ofsted needs to appreciate the context in which schools operate.
He would add: “Ofsted’s misplaced desire to lower the bar stems from deep empathy with professionals working in the most challenging contexts. But this lowering of the bar masks the ultimately damaging belief that some children ‘won’t get there’.”
“I don’t believe we can ever accept that.
“Because when we expect less from some kids because of where they live, their needs, or what’s going on at home, we tell them: ‘We expect less from you. Society expects less from you.'”
NAHT’s bid to launch a legal challenge against the new system, supported by ASCL and the National Education Union (NEU), was rejected in the High Court last year.
Ofsted and NAHT later announced the watchdog would work together to examine how the new report card system affected headteacher welfare.
