Ofsted has released its first annual report since its new education inspection framework begun in September 2025.

The new process replaces single-word summary grades with new-style report cards. This covers at least six evaluation areas using a new five-point score.

The report reveals that five per cent of Ofsted’s school inspection activity resulted in a complaint, more than the other areas that Ofsted inspects, such as early years, further education and social care.

There were 220 complaints made about 4,640 inspection activities in 2025-26, according to the report.

The most common category of complaint was for the “judgement, conduct and administration” of the inspection activity, with 490.

The report says that the findings and learning from individual complaints are shared with the lead inspector and their manager so that Ofsted can consider areas for improvement and training, and that Ofsted shares what it has learned across all regions to help inspectors and colleagues to improve.

The report also shows that Ofsted carried out 130 inspections at unregistered school, which is an increase from 90 in 2024-25.

Becoming law in April 2026, the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act has provided Ofsted with more powers to investigate and seize evidence on illegal unregistered independent schools.