How Ofsted inspects attendance and behaviour

Be clear on how attendance and behaviour will be inspected in your school under the 2025 Ofsted inspection framework.

Last reviewed on 22 September 2025See updates
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Contents
  1. Attendance and behaviour is graded on a 5-point scale
  2. What Ofsted is looking for
  3. How you'll be graded

Under the previous framework, behaviour was largely covered under the ‘behaviour and attitudes’ judgement, while attendance was inspected across several judgements. They're now combined into a single evaluation area.

Attendance and behaviour is graded on a 5-point scale

Inspectors will evaluate attendance and behaviour based on your school’s environment, and the attendance, behaviour and attitudes of your pupils.

Attendance and behaviour is 1 of the evaluation areas that will appear on your school’s inspection report card (see under 'New report cards' in our summary of changes). Each area will be graded using Ofsted’s new 5-point grading system, with Ofsted expecting most schools to attain at least an ‘expected standard’ in each area. The exception is safeguarding, which is either 'met' or 'not met'.

The grades are:

  • Exceptional
  • Strong standard
  • Expected standard
  • Needs attention
  • Urgent improvement

What Ofsted is looking for

Whether leaders and other staff create a calm, orderly, respectful, supportive and positive environment in which pupils